Research carried out by academics at the University of Liverpool, and Sheffield Hallam University, jointly commissioned by SFHA, Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute for Housing has revealed Scotland needs to build 15,693 affordable homes per year over the course of the next Scottish Parliament.

By contrast, only 8,188 homes were delivered in 2024, meaning an almost doubling of homes is required at current levels. 

It comes as the cabinet secretary for housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, is set to announce an action plan for tackling the housing emergency in a statement to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.

SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: “The research is clear: ending the housing emergency is going to require building a lot more social homes and a radical and sustained increase in the housing budget.

“Put simply, we need around 15,693 social and affordable homes per year and total public investment of at least £8.2billion over the course of the next parliament.

“Housing associations deliver secure, warm and affordable homes in communities across Scotland, and they could build so much more. Policymakers now have the blueprint to support them and that can begin with a realistic funding settlement by government across several years to give them the certainty needed to invest, borrow and build.

“The cost of inaction means more homelessness, more children growing up in temporary accommodation and more dreams shattered by a housing system which grows ever more unaffordable.”

Callum Chomczuk, national director of CIH Scotland, said: “The summary report published today by CIH Scotland, Shelter Scotland and SFHA set out Scotland’s affordable housing need in the next Parliamentary term. This is the third iteration of the report, and the findings have previously been accepted by the Scottish Government and all political parties.

“The summary report headlines show Scotland needs 15,693 social and affordable homes every year between 2026 and 2031, by contrast we only delivered 8,188 homes in 2024. This means an almost doubling of what we deliver.

“A commitment to this target will require a step change in how we deliver and fund social housing in Scotland. We hope the Housing Emergency Action Plan expected today will set us on the pathway to delivering more than 75,000 social and affordable homes in the next Parliament. We look forward to discussing the full findings with stakeholders when published later this month.”

Shelter Scotland director, Alison Watson, added: “This research shows the devastating impact of decades of underinvestment in housing. While homelessness and social housing need is increasing rapidly, we’ve failed to deliver the homes needed.

“Today, 10,360 children are trapped in temporary accommodation, and 2.3 million adults are impacted by Scotland’s housing emergency. Scotland urgently needs an action plan with long-term investment to fix a broken and biased system. At least 15,693 affordable homes a year is the bare minimum if the Scottish Government is serious about tackling homelessness and getting children out of harmful accommodation. We simply cannot afford not to do it.

“We need an immediate plan to end the unlawful failure to accommodate people, more funding for local authorities and fewer children waking up in unsafe temporary housing. Scotland also needs more larger homes, alongside proper investment in prevention and vital services such as mental health support for people at risk of homelessness.

“Social housing providers consistently deliver on time, on budget and bring economic returns. However, billions are spent each year on transport and IT projects that do not offer the same social, economic or wellbeing benefits as social housing.

“The only option is to invest in and deliver more social homes. Scotland cannot afford to lose another decade of housing.”