Housebuilding in Scotland has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to accredited official statistics for the year to June 2026.
Just over 17,000 new homes were completed and about 15,500 were started. Compared with the previous 12 months, completions fell 11% and starts fell 2%. Completions were the lowest since 2015, and starts the lowest since 2013.
Private sector
Private builders completed nearly 13,600 homes and started about 11,800. Completions were down 7% and starts down 8%, with private starts at their lowest since 2013.
Social sector
The social sector completed nearly 3,500 homes, down 25% and the lowest since 2007. Social-sector starts rose 26% to about 3,700, but from a record low the year before.
Affordable housing programme
The Affordable Housing Supply Programme recorded about 6,600 approvals, 7,100 starts and 6,800 completions in the year to June 2026. Approvals were up 42% and starts up 34%, though again from low starting points.
By June 2026, just over 36,500 homes had been delivered towards the Scottish Government’s target of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. Of these, 77% were for social rent, 14% for affordable rent and 8% for affordable home ownership.
Why it matters
New supply affects rents, house prices and waiting lists for social housing. The figures are a measure of how far Scotland is from its housing targets. The full tables and methodology are in the official release.
