Housing: key points

  • Housing has an important influence on health and wellbeing through several routes. These include; affordability; quality; fuel poverty; and the role of housing as home within a community.
  • Housing is part of the causal chain of health inequalities.
  • In Scotland, many people do not live in a house that is warm, dry and affordable.
  • Housing tenure has changed considerably since the turn of the century, with a reduction in social housing and an increasing number of households relying on the Private Rented Sector to meet their needs.
  • Raising and maintaining the quality of housing stock remains an ongoing challenge as does the provision of affordable housing.
  • Fuel poverty is a significant problem for many households; the definition of fuel poverty is changing to better identify those most in need.

 

Section updates:

  • This last major update of this section was completed in September 2021.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end December 2023.