Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Statistics: Scottish Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure 1997-98 to 2022-23 (near actuals) & 2023-24 (budgeted estimates)

8. Rents lost due to empty properties (void losses) (charts 8, 9) (tables 14, 15)

8.1 Councils lost £37m due to un-let all types of properties held on their HRAs in 2022-23 representing 2.8% of total rent income from all properties. From 2008-09 the statistics collected from Local Authorities have separately identified rents lost from un-let dwellings. For Scotland as a whole, rents lost due to un-let dwellings amounted to £31m in 2022-23 representing 2.4% of total rent income on these dwellings.

8.2 The percentage of rent on dwellings lost through voids in 2022-23 was highest in Aberdeen City and (5.9%) and lowest in North Ayrshire (0.6%). Levels of rent lost may be strongly influenced by factors such as different levels of demand for properties, different void management practices and targets, decanting for improvement or investment programmes or the inclusion of properties awaiting demolition.