New local authority lettings

During 2024–25, 26,602 permanent lettings were made. The number of permanent lettings increased (5% or 1,179 lets) compared to 2023–24.

Of all the local authority lettings made in 2024–25, 49% were to homeless households, 25% were to those on a housing waiting list, 21% were transfers to existing tenants, and 1% classified as other.

Chart 6: The number of permanent lettings, 2001–02 to 2024–25, Scotland

Chart 6 displays how the number of new local authority lettings has evolved over time and by source of tenant. There was a decline from 2001–02 to 2008–09, followed by stable levels from 2014–15 until the impact of the COVID-19 in 2020–21. It is important to recognise that the change in number of lettings will also relate to changes in the overall local authority stock numbers as well as availability. Notably, the chart shows an increasing share of permanent lettings going to homeless households, while the proportion going to those on a housing waiting list has decreased.

Chart 7: Proportion of permanent local authority lettings by sources of tenant in 2024-25 by local authority in Scotland

Notes:

1. A breakdown for North Ayrshire is not provided as we are only able to provide the total number of lettings.

There are geographical variations in the proportion of new permanent lettings by source of tenant, as illustrated in Chart 7. For example, homeless households made up 66% of all permanent lettings in Edinburgh compared to 20% in Aberdeenshire.

Notes on local authority lettings:

1. Further detailed figures are available in the local authority lettings Excel web tables.
2. The Scottish Government also publishes a range of information on Homelessness Statistics, including the number of lets for homeless households, collected through the HL1 return.