The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has called for urgent action on the housing emergency after figures showed the number of social homes started in Scotland fell to the lowest levels since records began in the mid-1990s.
According to statistics published by the Scottish Government, the number of homes built by housing associations in the year to June 2025 plummeted by over 30% as the social sector started fewer homes than at any point since 1997.
SFHA, who represent Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives, said the worrying trend underlines the huge scale of the country’s housing emergency.
It comes as the Scottish Parliament is today set to pass new housing laws aimed at tackling homelessness and introducing private rent controls.
Last week SFHA joined CIH Scotland and Shelter Scotland detailing research showing that Scotland needs to build over 15,000 social and affordable homes per year to meet housing need across the next Parliament. However, according to today’s statistics, the number of completed homes was just 6,851 – considerably under half the amount experts say is required.
SFHA Chief Executive, Richard Meade said: “This is a desperate situation. Tackling the housing emergency, ending child poverty and improving Scotland’s public health record simply cannot be done without building far, far more social homes.
“Our research shows that we must build over 15,000 affordable homes a year – and we’re not even reaching halfway towards that. If political parties believe in a fairer, more just Scotland than this must be the first priority of the next Scottish Government. If we don’t take urgent action then we will never end the housing emergency, committing thousands of Scottish families to a bleak future.”
