In Scotland there are 21,606 second homes and 43,538 properties
empty for more than 6 months.
The latest council tax data (in September 2024) shows there were
21,606 second homes, 43,538 properties that had been empty for
more than 6 months, of which, 73% (31,596) were categorised as
long-term empty homes (i.e. empty for over 12 months) and 47,779
unoccupied exemptions which have generally been empty and
unfurnished for less than 6 months.
Compared with the previous year (2023):
- there was a decrease of 10% (2,455) in second homes, this is
the biggest annual decrease in 10 years. This may relate to the
100% council tax premium on second homes that came into effect in
April 2024.
- a decrease of 6% (2,679) in empty homes, which is likely to
be associated with a clarification in the data specification to
ensure only empty homes at or over 6 months would be counted in
the data.
- an increase of 12% (3,316) in long term empty homes (empty
for over 12 months) and a decrease of 1% (486) in unoccupied
exemptions.
Background
https://www.gov.scot/publications/second-homes-and-empty-properties-in-september-2024
Prior to this publication, empty homes data were published in the
December quarterly housebuilding release.
Background information including Excel tables and explanatory
information on data sources and quality can be found in the
Housing Statistics
webpages.
Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for
Statistics.
