THE number of ‘council houses’ in Scotland - as at the end of March this year - was 319,966, up by 2,576 houses since the same time last year - according to Scottish Government figures released today, here.
Meanwhile, a total £1.437 billion was taken in - during the financial year, 2023-24 - by Scotland's local authorities as rental income from their stock of ‘council houses’.
The average rent per house was £82.32 per week in 2023-24, up by £3.25 on 2022-23.
Of that £1.437 billion, £912m was spent on the supervision, management and maintenance of housing and £343m on loan charges. The surplus - £122m - “was transferred to the council’s housing capital expenditure account to invest in new council houses and stock improvements”.
Among other findings:
Average expenditure on management / maintenance was £2,810 per house in 2023-24 - made up of £1,100 per house in supervision and management costs and £1,700 per house in repairs and maintenance costs;
Councils lost £39.7m due to empty properties in 2023-24, or 2.8 per cent of rental income on these properties. Rent arrears on all council properties was £118m, up £4.8m (4.3 per cent) on last year, representing 8.6 per cent of rental income on these properties. “Arrears have risen steadily since March 2013.”
In 2023-24, councils spent £343m on loan charges to the Housing Revenue Account (interest, capital repayment and loan fund expenses). Total estimated council housing debt stood at £5.516bn in 2023-24, an increase of £532m (10.7 per cent) on last year. “Councils borrow money to build new properties and improve existing stock.”
Image details: Leith, Edinburgh; copyright Mike Wilson