Housing Statistics 2025: Key Trends Summary
Annual statistics on housing stock by tenure to 31st March 2024, local authority housing management data (relating either to local authority social housing, home ownership, or the private rented sector), and new housing supply data up to 31st March 2025.
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Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property that is shared by three or more people who are members of more than two families. It can also be known as a house share. HMO landlords must have a licence from the local authority. This ensures that the property is managed properly and meets certain safety standards.
The most recent figures as of 31st March 2025 show 15,449 licences in force. There has been a 1% increase in licences since March 2024.
Chart 10 shows that the City of Edinburgh has the highest number of licences in force, with 44% of Scotland’s HMO licences.
Chart 10: Houses in Multiple Occupation licences in force in Scotland in 2024–25, by local authority
There were approximately 6,316 new and renewal applications received in 2024–25, 9% less than 2023–24. New applications made up 23% of these, and 77% were applications for license renewals.
Notes on houses of multiple occupation data:
Further detailed figures are available in the HMO Excel web tables