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Publication - Statistics

Scottish House Condition Survey: 2022 Key Findings

Published
29 February 2024
Directorate
Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Part of
Housing

Figures from the 2022 survey, including updated fuel poverty rates, energy efficiency ratings, the condition of housing and the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

This document is part of 2 collections

View supporting documents Supporting documents

6 Bedroom Standard

6.1 Overcrowding and Under-Occupancy

Key Points

  • In 2022 around 70,000 households lived in overcrowded accommodation (3%), under the bedroom standard.
  • Around 37% of all households (949,000) had one bedroom in excess of the minimum requirement under the bedroom standard. A further 888,000 (35% of all households) had two or more bedrooms in excess.
  • Social sector tenants are more likely to live in accommodation which meets but does not exceed the minimum requirements of the bedroom standard (51% compared to 17% in the private sector). Social sector tenants are also slightly more likely (5%) to live in accommodation which is overcrowded according to the bedroom standard than those households living in the private sector (2%).
  • By comparison households in the private sector are more likely to live in accommodation which exceeds the bedroom standard (81% vs 44% for social tenants).
  • 15% of households living in homes meeting (but not exceeding) the bedroom standard felt their home had too few rooms, while 46% of households living in overcrowded homes felt that their home had just about the right number of rooms.
  • Scottish House Condition Survey results for 2022 have been assessed to be comparable in the most part to 2019 and earlier years. However, as noted in section 1.1.5 of the Methodological and Technical notes there is evidence to suggest that social and private rented households, who are less likely to exceed the bedroom standard, may be  under-represented in the 2022 achieved sample and owner-occupied households, who are more likely to exceed the bedroom standard, may be slightly over-represented. Due to this, national level estimates of households exceeding or failing to meet the bedroom standard may be slightly underestimated.

This section examines some key measures of whether households are living in overcrowded or under-occupied conditions. This is determined on the basis of the bedroom standard as defined in the Housing (Overcrowding) Bill 2003 taking into account the number of bedrooms available in the dwelling and the type of household that occupies it.

Minimum requirements for bedrooms under the bedroom standard should not be confused with criteria for the removal of the spare room subsidy. More information on the bedroom standard and the differences between the two is included in section 2.9 of the Methodological and Technical notes.

The majority of dwellings in Scotland have at least one bedroom above the minimum standard.

Figure 6.1: Proportion of dwellings which are overcrowded, meet the minimum standard, or exceed it, 2012-2022

Six line charts show how headline occupancy measures have changed over time (from 2012 to 2022). In 2022, the national rate of households with at least one bedroom above the minimum standard was 72%, an increase of 3 percentage points since 2019. The proportion of households live in accommodations that meet the minimum bedroom standard (but not exceed it) decreased from 29% in 2019 to 25% in 2022. The rate of overcrowding has remained within 2-3% since 2012 and is currently at 3% in 2022. The proportion of dwellings with 2 bedrooms above the minimum increased from 8% in 2012 to 11% in 2019 and remained stable at 11% in 2022.

Figure 6.1 shows how headline occupancy measures have changed over time. In 2022, the national rate of households with at least one bedroom above the minimum standard was 72%, an increase of 3 percentage points since 2019. The proportion of households who live in accommodation that meets (but not exceeds) the minimum bedroom standard decreased from 29% in 2019 to 25% in 2022. The rate of overcrowding (i.e. below the standard) has remained around 2-3% since 2012 and is currently at 3% in 2022. The proportion of dwellings with 3 or more bedrooms above the minimum increased from 8% in 2012 to 11% in 2019 and remained stable at 11% in 2022.

Data Source: Table BS1a in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Notes: [note 21]

Subsequent sections examine in more detail the differences across household and dwelling characteristic

6.1.1 Overcrowding

A dwelling is considered overcrowded if there are insufficient bedrooms to meet the occupants’ requirements under the bedroom standard definition (see section 2.9 of the Methodological and Technical notes).

Around 3% of households in Scotland live in overcrowded accommodations.

Figure 6.2: Overcrowded dwellings by dwelling and household characteristics, 2022

Bar chart showing the percentage of overcrowded dwellings by various dwelling and household characteristics in 2022. Around 3% of households were found to live in overcrowded accommodation. Social sector dwellings (5%) were more likely to be overcrowded than private sector dwellings (2%). Households who own their properties outright (1%) had overcrowding rates below the national average.

In 2022, around 3% of all households (70,000) were found to live in overcrowded accommodation (see Figure 6.2). Social sector dwellings (5%) were more likely to be overcrowded than private sector dwellings (2%). Households who own their properties outright (1%) had overcrowding rates below the national average.

Data Source: Table BS2 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Notes: [note 1]

6.1.2 Under-Occupancy

37% of households had one additional bedroom above the minimum bedroom standard and around 35% had two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum standard.

Figure 6.3: Dwellings above minimum bedroom standard, by dwelling and household characteristics, 2022

Bar chart showing the percentage of dwellings above minimum bedroom standard, by dwelling and household characteristics in 2022. 37% of all household had one additional bedroom above the minimum under the bedroom standard and 35% of all households had two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum standard. Households in the social and private rented sectors are less likely to have two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum requirements. Only 9% of social tenants and 15% of private tenants have two or more additional rooms, compared to 56% of those who own outright and 35% of those with a mortgage. The proportion of households with one bedroom in excess of minimum requirements is similar between the private and social sectors (38% and 35% respectively). Higher income households (£45,000 or more per year) are more likely to live in dwellings with two or more additional bedrooms (43%) than the national average (35%). Under-occupied dwellings are less common amongst those built pre-1919, where 68% have one or more bedrooms in excess of the standard, compared to dwellings built post-1982 where the rate is 77%. Similarly, detached houses have the highest rates of under-occupancy compared to other building types: 67% with two or more additional bedrooms. Tenements (9%) and other flats (12%) have the lowest rates of two or more additional bedrooms but are more likely to meet but not exceed the minimum standard (47% and 34% respectively) than detached houses. Under-occupation is more common in rural areas. 47% of rural dwellings have two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum requirements under the bedroom standard, compared to 32% for urban properties.As shown in Figure 6.3, around 37% of all household had one additional bedroom above the minimum under the bedroom standard and 35% of all households had two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum standard.

Households in the social and private rented sectors are less likely to have two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum requirements. Only 9% of social tenants and 15% of private tenants have two or more additional rooms, compared to 56% of those who own outright and 35% of those with a mortgage. The proportion of households with one bedroom in excess of minimum requirements is similar between the private and social sectors (38% and 35% respectively).

Higher income households (£45,000 or more per year) are more likely to live in dwellings with two or more additional bedrooms (43%) than the national average (35%).

Under-occupied dwellings are less common amongst those built pre-1919, where 68% have one or more bedrooms in excess of the standard, compared to dwellings built post-1982 where the rate is 77%. Similarly, detached houses have the highest rates of under-occupancy compared to other building types: 67% with two or more additional bedrooms. By comparison, tenements (9%) and other flats (12%) have the lowest rates of two or more additional bedrooms but are more likely to meet but not exceed the minimum standard (47% and 34% respectively) than detached houses (see Table BS4 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’).

Under-occupation is more common in rural areas. 47% of rural dwellings have two or more bedrooms in excess of the minimum requirements under the bedroom standard, compared to 32% for urban properties.

Data Source: Table BS3 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Notes: [note 1] [note 21]

In 2022, a quarter of households in Scotland live in accommodations that meet (but not exceed) the minimum bedroom standard.

Figure 6.4: Dwellings meeting the minimum bedroom standard (but not exceeding), by dwelling and household characteristics, 2022

Bar chart showing the percentage of dwellings meeting the minimum bedroom standard (but not exceeding), by dwelling and household characteristics in 2022. Social and private rented sector tenants are more likely to live in accommodation which meets (but doesn’t exceed) the minimum requirements of the bedroom standard; 51% of the social sector and 40% in the PRS, meet but do not exceed the bedroom standard compared to 9% for those who own outright and 19% for those with a mortgage. In 2022, 47% of tenements and 34% of other flats met (but did not exceed) the minimum standard. Urban dwellings are more likely to meet, but not exceed, the minimum standard (27%) than rural dwellings (16%). Lower income household are more likely to meet and not exceed the standard compared to higher income households; 27% of households with annual household income lower that £15,000 meet but do not exceed the bedroom standard compared to 20% for those with an income higher than £45,000.

Social and private rented sector tenants are more likely to live in accommodation which meets (but doesn’t exceed) the minimum requirements of the bedroom standard (Figure 6.4); 51% of the social sector and 40% in the PRS, meet but do not exceed the bedroom standard compared to 9% for those who own outright and 19% for those with a mortgage.

In 2022, 47% of tenements and 34% of other flats met (but did not exceed) the minimum standard. Urban dwellings are more likely to meet, but not exceed, the minimum standard (27%) than rural dwellings (16%).

Lower income household are more likely to meet and not exceed the standard compared to higher income households; 27% of households with annual household income lower that £15,000 meet but do not exceed the bedroom standard compared to 20% for those with an income higher than £45,000.

Data Source: Table BS4 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Notes: [note 1]

6.2 Overcrowding and Under-Occupancy Perceptions

The Scottish Household Survey asks householders about their views on the number of rooms in their house/flat. Since 2021 we have provided an analysis of the responses to this question and in relation to the household’s compliance with the bedroom standard. It should be noted that the question does not ask specifically about the number of bedrooms in the house/flat.

The majority (83%) of householders reported that their accommodation had about the right number of rooms.

Figure 6.5: Householders’ perceptions about the number of rooms in their accommodation, 2022

Doughnut chart showing that in 2021, 9% of the households believe that their accommodation has too many rooms, 11% that has too few rooms and 80% believe that has about the right number of rooms.

83% of householders reported that their accommodation had about the right number of rooms, while 8% believed that they have too few rooms and 9% that they have too many rooms (see Figure 6.5).

Data Source: Table BS5 in ‘SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Householders' views on the number of rooms in their accommodation vary across various household and dwelling characteristics.

Figure 6.6: Householders' perceptions about the number of rooms in their accommodation, by dwelling and household characteristics, 2022

Bar chart showing householders' perceptions about the number of rooms in their accommodation, by dwelling and household characteristics in 2022. In private sector dwellings 10% of householders feel that their accommodation has too many rooms and 7% that their accommodation has too few rooms. By comparison in the social sector 12% of the respondents feel that their accommodation has too few rooms while only 4% feel that they have too many rooms. 17% of householders who live in detached houses believe that their house has too many rooms, higher than all other dwelling types. By comparison 9% of semi-detached, 8% of terraced houses, 4% of tenements and 5% for other flats believe they have too many rooms. In rural locations 8% of the respondents feel that their accommodation has too few rooms and 13% feel that they have too many rooms, while for urban locations the proportions are 8% and 8% respectively. 11% of households with an annual income of £45,000 or more believe that their accommodation has too few rooms, higher than households with an income less than £15,000 where only 4% of feel the same way.

Figure 6.6 shows that in private sector dwellings 10% of householders feel that their accommodation has too many rooms and 7% that their accommodation has too few rooms. By comparison in the social sector 12% of the respondents feel that their accommodation has too few rooms while only 4% feel that they have too many rooms.

17% of householders who live in detached houses believe that their house has too many rooms, higher than all other dwelling types. By comparison 9% of semi-detached, 8% of terraced houses, 4% of tenements and 5% for other flats believe they have too many rooms. In rural locations 8% of the respondents feel that their accommodation has too few rooms and 13% feel that they have too many rooms, while for urban locations the proportions are 8% and 8% respectively. 11% of households with an annual income of £45,000 or more believe that their accommodation has too few rooms, higher than households with an income less than £15,000 where only 4% of feel the same way.

Data Source: Table BS6 in SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Notes: [note 1]

84% of householders who live in under-occupied dwellings feel that they have about the right number of rooms.

Figure 6.7: Householders' perceptions about the number of rooms in their accommodation, by bedroom standard, 2022

Bar chart showing householders' perceptions about the number of rooms in their accommodation, by bedrrom standard. In 2022, 84% of respondents who live in a dwelling with 1 or more rooms above the bedroom standard feel that they have just the right number of rooms, 12% feel that they have too many and 3% feel that they have too few rooms. 84% of householders who live in accommodation meeting (but not exceeding) the bedroom standard feel that they have the right number of rooms, similar to dwellings exceeding the bedroom standard. Conversely 15% feel that they have too few rooms, higher than dwellings with 1 or more rooms above the bedroom standard.

Figure 6.7 shows that 84% of respondents who live in a dwelling with 1 or more rooms above the bedroom standard feel that they have the right number of rooms, 12% feel that they have too many and 3% feel that they have too few rooms. 84% of householders who live in accommodation meeting (but not exceeding) the bedroom standard feel that they have the right number of rooms, similar to dwellings exceeding the bedroom standard. Conversely 15% feel that they have too few rooms, higher than dwellings with 1 or more rooms above the bedroom standard.

Data Source: Table BS7 in SHCS 2022- Chapter 06 Bedroom Standard- tables and figures’

Contact

shcs@gov.scot 

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