The latest Scottish Housing Survey highlights the importance that all parts of the property market play in delivering homes for Scots,

DJ Alexander Ltd, which commissioned the poll, said that the latest survey shows that the different parts of the property sector complement each other and should be encouraged to grow together.

Reflecting on the breakdown of housing in Scotland by tenure shows that between 1999 and 2023, the Scottish housing survey shows that the overall number of households increased from 2.18m to 2.54m. Over that period the number of owner-occupiers rose by 260,000 households (up 19%); private rented sector (PRS) households were up 210,000 (up 175%); with social rented sector households down by 100,000 (15% lower).

Therefore, the number of owner-occupiers in 2023 stood at 1,610,000; there were 330,000 homes in the private rented sector; and 570,000 social rented properties; with a further 20,000 in ‘other’ housing.

The breakdown by age of those who lived in these different sections of the property market shows that 89% of homeowners were aged 35 and over; with 81% of those in social housing in the same age group; while 52% of those in the PRS were aged under 34.

In terms of economic status 66% of tenants in the PRS were employed full or part time, or self-employed; with just 39% of those in social housing employed. Just 27% of those in the PRS had someone with a physical or mental health condition while this rose to 59% in the social housing sector.

The PRS houses many more people from a non-Scottish, non-white background accounting for 20% of all tenants with this falling to 7% in social housing. When it came to how long each tenant had been in a property 56% of PRS occupiers reported two years or less while just 24% have been in social housing for the same period. Around one third of social housing tenants have been in their properties for more than 11 years with fewer than 7% in the PRS.

In terms of affordability 88% of tenants in the PRS say they are managing well or getting by compared to 81% in the social housing sector.

David Alexander, the chief executive officer of DJ Alexander Scotland, commented: “What this data shows is that the PRS – rather than replacing social housing – actually serves a very different market. The people living in the PRS are much younger, tend to be better paid, and more mobile than those in social housing. They work, they travel, they are more likely to come from another culture, and they are not seeking a lifelong home in the PRS but are using it for employment, for convenience, and for lifestyle reasons.”

“Whereas the social housing sector is much more likely to be occupied by older people, seeking a permanent home in the sector, who are not working or seeking work, and may be looking after an elderly or sick relative, they will also probably come from the area they are currently living in.”

Alexander continued: “Therefore, this poses the very real question that both these sectors are ideally positioned to exist in tandem and should, therefore, be working with each other rather than in opposition. They are both essential sectors but serve very different needs and there is no evidence from this, or any other survey, to show that one is undermining or replacing the other. Indeed, they need each other to service the diverse array of people who make up modern Scotland.”

“Policies which seek to undermine, or demonise the PRS, in the belief that social housing can service all tenants’ needs are therefore, not only superfluous and uninformed, but actually damaging to the wellbeing of tenants in Scotland.”

He added: “It is also telling that tenants in the private rented sector are much more contented with their homes than those in social housing. They are more likely to feel their home is affordable, in an area they like, and somewhere they want to live than their counterparts in social housing.”

“The PRS can be a place to live for a long time, but it is less likely to be a permanent solution for many people. For young working people it is the ideal option to live somewhere they want to live which is close to work and leisure activities. For older, more settled individuals, with lower incomes, seeking a permanent home the social housing sector is likely to be the best option.

“We should be creating a housing system which works in harmony to ensure that there are enough homes for all sections of the Scottish community providing homes where people want to live, in groups that match their needs and aspirations, and at prices that are affordable for an individuals’ economic status.

“The assumption that social housing is good and private housing is bad is a false and unrealistic notion and we must, in 2025, start to address the very real housing issues that such thinking has caused and will continue to cause unless it is immediately addressed.”