Social sector new housebuilding

The social sector housing (local authority and housing association units combined) accounted for 22% of all new build homes completed in 2025-26.

The social sector built 3,774 homes and started 3,937 new builds in 2025-26. Completions were down 16% (-697) and starts were up 25% (790) between 2024-25 and 2025-26. Completions in the social sector were the lowest since 2016-17 and starts were higher than the previous financial year (2024-25), as illustrated in Chart 4a and 4b.

Chart 4a: Social sector led new housebuilding starts, Scotland, 1996-97 to 2025-26

Chart 4b: Social sector led new housebuilding completions, Scotland, 1996-97 to 2025-26

In 2025-26 there were 2,255 housing association led completions, 2,414 housing association led starts and there were 1,519 local authority led completions and 1,523 local authority led starts.

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, both local authority led starts and housing association starts increased (9%, 127 homes: 38%, 663 homes). Local authority led completions and housing association completions decreased (-11%, -179 homes: -19%, -518 homes).

The time series of completions per 10,000 population by local authority and at Scotland level is now available in one place, making it easier for users to assess building in relation to the differing populations over time. Chart 5 shows social sector housebuilding completions rates per 10,000 population in Scotland. In 2025-26 the completion rate per 10,000 population was seven homes.

Chart 5: Social sector new housebuilding completion rates per 10,000 population, Scotland, 1996-97 to 2025-26

Map C below shows the rates of social sector new build completions in each local authority area for 2025-26 per 10,000 of the population. Social sector new build completion rates were highest in Na h-Eileanan Siar with a rate of over 32 homes per 10,000 population.

There were five local authorities who built no social sector homes in 2025-26 (Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire and Shetland Islands).

Local authority new build rates were highest in Aberdeen City having a rate of over 13 homes per 10,000 population. Eleven local authorities built no local authority homes in 2025-26 (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Orkney Islands, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Lanarkshire, and West Lothian). This excludes the six local authorities that transferred their stock to housing associations so do not build new local authority houses (Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Na h-Eileanan Siar and The Scottish Borders).

Housing association new build rates were highest in Na h-Eileanan Siar with a rate of over 32 homes per 10,000 population. There were no housing association homes built in nine local authorities in 2025-26 (Aberdeen City, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, Shetland Islands and South Ayrshire).

Map C: New build housing – social sector completions: rates per 10,000 population, 2025-26

The latest quarterly data and comparison of quarters in 2024-25 and 2025-26 are shown in the ‘Quarterly Comparisons’ section. Timeseries data along with local authority breakdowns are contained in the supporting Excel tables.