Scottish Government has published the latest results from the annual Scottish House Condition Survey. 

The headline figures show there has been an overall reduction in the number of households in fuel poverty (decreased from 33.9% in 2023 to 29.7% in 2024). However nearly half (49%) of social housing tenants remain in fuel poverty with 22% experiencing extreme fuel poverty. Those reliant on electricity for heat are particularly at risk with 42% of households using electricity as their primary heating fuel found to be fuel poor compared to 27% of those with gas central heating. 

On energy efficiency, the results demonstrate that the social housing sector continues to outperform the private sector in terms of insulation levels and overall energy efficiency. The percentage of homes in the social sector achieving an Energy Efficiency Rating of Band C or above sits at 71% (79% for housing associations, 64% for local authorities) compared to 51% in the private sector.  

Similarly on the Tolerable Standard and Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), the social housing sector outperforms the private sector. Overall in 2024, 28% of homes fell below the Tolerable Standard (BTS). However, for the social sector the percentage of homes BTS is 12% (13% for housing associations, 12% for local authorities) compared to 32% in the private sector. The vast majority of homes failed because they did not have satisfactory equipment for detecting warning in the event of fire (76%) or against high levels of carbon monoxide (55%).  

It is a similar picture for the SHQS. In 2024, 54% of homes failed to meet the SHQS. The percentage of homes in the social sector failing the SHQS was 41% (36% for housing associations, 44% for local authorities) compared to 58% in the private sector. The highest failure rate in the social sector was down to the Not Energy Efficient criterion (25%) followed by the BTS criterion (12%). The majority of homes in the social sector failing the SHQS did so based on one failure (75%), with 22% failing on two, and 3% failing on three or more. 

Levels of disrepair are broadly consistent across tenures. Overall levels of disrepair to critical elements increased from 45% in 2023 to 48% in 2024, whilst 16% of dwellings had disrepair only to non-critical elements. The social sector and private sector had the same level of disrepair to any critical element (48%), although for housing associations this has increased from 37% in 2023 to 48% in 2024. The social and private sectors had similar levels of any disrepair alongside any urgent disrepair (22% and 23%), as well as any disrepair, urgent repair, and extensive repair (both 4%).  

Levels of damp and condensation were similar to the levels in 2023 with 90% of homes being free from any damp or condensation. This is slightly lower in the social sector at 86%. The proportion of homes without mould improved to 2024, with 92% of homes free from mould compared to 90% in 2023. Again, this is slightly lower in the social sector at 88%. Levels of penetrating damp were around 3% of homes in 2024, and the survey suggests less than 0.5% of homes have any rising damp. 

On the bedroom standard, social sector tenants are more likely to live in accommodation which either meets but does not exceed, or fails to meet the minimum requirements of the bedroom standard. Overall, around 2% of households lived in overcrowded homes. However, for social tenants (both housing association and local authority) this number is 4%. For the private sector overall it is 1%, but for private rental sector tenants it is also 4%. Households in the social sector (50%) are also more likely than those in the private sector (19%) to live in homes which meet but do not exceed the minimum requirements of the bedroom standard. Households in the private sector (80%) are more likely than those in the social sector (46%) to live in homes which exceed the bedroom standards. 

If you’d like any more detail on this you can get in touch with Cassandra Dove at cdove@sfha.co.uk or Tom Ockendon at tockendon@sfha.co.uk