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Annual RSL letting statistics published

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Scottish GovernmentStatistics providing information on lets made by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in 2014-15 have been released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The yearly report shows that single adult households accounted for 37.2 per cent of all new lets. Another 20.5 per cent of households were single parent families. Nearly two-fifths (37.3 per cent) of new lets were made to employed households compared to 30.6 per cent made to unemployed households. A further 15.0 per cent of lets were to retired households and 9.4 per cent to households with a disability or long term illness.

Around two fifths (39.8 per cent) of new lets were made to households reporting previously living in temporary or unsecured accommodation, including with immediate family (14.9 per cent), in bed & breakfast or temporary accommodation (14.4 per cent) or with friends or relatives (10.5 per cent). A further 35.9 per cent transferred from other social housing.

Over-crowding (16.9 per cent) was the most common main reason given for rehousing. A further 13.0 per cent of households were rehoused for medical or health reasons. During 2014-15, 28.7 per cent of households housed by RSLs were homeless prior to taking up their tenancies, up very slightly from 27.7 per cent in 2013-14.

The statistics, collected from RSLs at the time of letting also showed that:

  • Flats accounted for almost three quarters (73.8 per cent) of properties let during the year, with houses 20.6 per cent and bungalows a further 4.4 per cent. One bedroom properties accounted for 38.9 per cent of lets and a further 4.4 per cent were bedsits

  • Of all properties let, 40.1 per cent were two bedroom, 14.3 per cent were three bedroom and 2.3 per cent had four or more bedrooms

  • 5 per cent of new lets were allocated using Choice Based Lettings, which allows households to actively apply for properties that match their assessed requirements

  • Around 3 in 10 properties (30.8 per cent) let during the year were let immediately after the previous tenants vacated the property (or immediately after the conclusion of any major repair works)

  • Over two-fifths of properties (41.3 per cent) were void for two weeks or more.

    • The average weekly rent for Scottish Secure Tenancy General Needs new lettings, increased by 4.5 per cent from £69.12 in 2013-14 to £72.18 in 2014-15. The average weekly household income of all households rose by 6.5 per cent in 2014-15 to £241.39, compared with £226.58 in 2013-14. It varied from an average of £127.74 amongst unemployed households to £399.76 amongst those working full-time.

    84.5 per cent of full-time working households passed the affordability measure, meaning they did not need housing benefit in order for their rent to be affordable.

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