Scottish housebuilding slumps to lowest level in a decade

The number of new homes added to Scotland’s housing stock has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, according to new figures.

Scottish government annual housing statistics estimate there are 2.75 million homes across Scotland, but housebuilding has fallen sharply.

The news comes as the Scottish government has published guidance to help local authorities assess whether rent controls should be introduced in their areas.

Figures are appalling

According to Scottish government data, Scotland had an estimated 2.75 million homes. Of these, 60% were owner-occupied, 23% socially rented and 13% privately rented or occupied rent-free. The remaining 4% were vacant properties or second homes.

Just 18,028 new homes were added between April 2025 and March 2026, an 8% drop on the previous year and the lowest level since 2014-15, excluding the COVID-19 period.

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman, James Adams MSP said the housebuilding figures were “appalling”.

He said: “Two years on from agreeing there is a housing emergency in Scotland, the SNP still have no plan to deliver the homes Scotland needs.

“It is appalling that the number of homes added to Scotland’s housing stock is at its lowest in over a decade.

“Councils are drowning in red tape, thousands of families are trapped in temporary accommodation, and fewer homes are being made available while demand soars.

“The SNP’s reckless rent controls have driven landlords out of the sector and made it harder to attract the investment needed to build more homes.

“John Swinney must scrap the anti-development barriers, reverse the policies choking supply and get Scotland building again, because warm words and emergency declarations are no substitute for delivering homes.”

The Scottish government has also released private rental data, with Citylets figures showing average new-let rents fell for a second consecutive quarter in Q2 2026, down 0.2% year-on-year.

In contrast, Rightmove data showed new-let rents rose by 2.6% over the same period.