Scottish House Condition Survey

Organisation Responsible: Scottish Government

Background and purpose: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is the single largest housing research project in Scotland, and the only national survey to look at the physical condition of Scotland's homes as well as the experiences of householders. The aims of the survey are as follows:

to monitor the physical quality of Scotland's housing stock at a national level over time
to contribute to an understanding of the factors which influence the physical condition of the housing stock
to provide a benchmark against which outputs from local house condition surveys can be measured
to supplement the system of resource allocation within the Scottish Government
to explore relationships between investment and stock condition both at an individual local authority level and at the national level
to provide an information resource which can be drawn on for policy development in all areas of housing, such as fuel poverty, which relate to individual households and dwellings and the relationship between them.

In January 2012, the SHCS became a module of the Scottish Household Survey. The target sample sizes and sampling procedures are unchanged so there will be no break in the time series, nor any impact on the precision of estimates and the frequency of reporting.

Survey years / frequency: The survey was previously conducted every 5 or 6 years with sweeps in 1991, 1996 and 2002. In 2003, the survey moved to a format of continuous fieldwork (January to December of each year) with key estimates reported annually and Local Authority level findings reported every three years. Incorporation into the Scottish Household Survey has not affected the frequency of reporting. The latest available annual Key Findings report is for 2017. The latest available Local Authority report is for 2015-2017.

Survey content: The SHCS consists of two parts: a social interview (conducted with the Highest Income Householder or his/her spouse/partner) and a subsequent physical inspection carried out by a trained building professional. The social interview covers a range of topics, including household composition; tenure, previous moves and intention to move; self-reported health status and respiratory health; work done to the dwelling; heating arrangements, their use and costs; housing costs; satisfaction with the home and the local environment; existing adaptations and the need for others; employment status and income.

The physical inspection focuses on the basic description of the dwelling; the material used in construction; the state of repair of the internal, external and common parts; the remaining life of external and common elements; amenities and services present; heating systems and insulation; whether or not the dwelling complies with the Barrier Free Standard; whether or not the dwelling complies with the Tolerable Standard.

Target population: All types of housing, whether owned or rented, flats and houses, in urban, rural and island locations across the whole of Scotland.

Sample size: Stratified random sample from the Postcode Address File, plus a longitudinal sample from a proportion of those previously surveyed. Prior to 2003, surveys typically consisted of sample sizes of around 15,000 paired social and physical cases. The 2003/4, 2004/5, 2005/6, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 surveys set target achieved sample sizes of at least 3,000 paired interviews across Scotland annually, gathering data from almost 4,000 households and dwellings.

The incorporation of the SHCS within the SHS resulted in a reduction of the sample where a physical inspection of the dwellings was undertaken.

Method of data collection: Interviewers undertake face-to-face Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) interviews with householders. Where consent is given, surveyors conduct a physical inspection of the premises. From 2012, the physical survey incorporated electronic data capture rather than the pen and paper method used previously.

Smallest geographical unit reported: Local authority.

Availability of results and further information: Further details on the survey, including annual Key Findings reports and three-yearly Local Authority reports, can be obtained from the Scottish Government website Scottish House Condition Survey or by contacting the SHCS Team (Tel: 0131 244 1685, Email: shcs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk). The Scottish House Condition Survey is now part of the Scottish Household Survey.