This dataset does not contain any directly identifiable personal information.

Estimates are compared with earlier years’ data, and with dwellings data extracted from the Assessor’s Portal, to identify any potential issues. Explanations for large changes in total dwellings are sought from local authorities. The total number of dwellings of each occupation status in each local authority is also compared to the neighbourhood scale (data zone level) collection of Council Tax data used to produce NRS’ small area household estimates (published on statistics.gov.scot as the ‘Household Estimates’ dataset).

Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Totals may not equal the sum of their parts as a result of this rounding. NRS’s household estimates use data on occupied dwellings taken from Council Tax systems. Although an occupied dwelling is roughly equivalent to a household, the number of occupied dwellings can differ from the number of households recorded by the census. One reason is that some dwellings may be shared by more than one household; each household would be counted by the Census but only the dwelling would be counted in Council Tax data. Another reason is that certain communal establishments (for example student halls of residence) will be included in the count of occupied dwellings from Council Tax systems but would not be classified as households in the census. The occupied dwellings figures are adjusted to account for differences between Council Tax data and the census. However, as we move further from the most recent census this may not fully account for the discrepancies.

In order to produce statistics about occupied and vacant dwellings for smaller geographic areas, NRS collects equivalent data from Council Tax systems at neighbourhood (data zone) level. This collection is carried out in September each year to align with the timing of the Ctaxbase collection. The neighbourhood data is available from the NRS website, and is published on statistics.gov.scot as the ‘Household Estimates’ dataset. For a number of council areas, the totals from summing data zone figures do not exactly match the council area figures from ‘Ctaxbase’. For example, some dwellings on the Council Tax systems do not have postcode information or have invalid postcode information. The postcode is used to identify the data zone, so a dwelling without a postcode will not be included in the data zone level figures. In most cases where there are differences, councils have confirmed that the Ctaxbase figures will be more accurate. However a small number of councils have told us that the data zone level total for a particular category is more accurate than the Ctaxbase figure. In such cases, we use the data zone total in both the neighbourhood statistics and council area household estimates. There are inconsistencies between the ways in which some Councils record Council Tax discounts and exemptions. Changes over time in categories of Council Tax discounts and exemptions can occur because a Council area has carried out a review and identified cases where a dwelling has been incorrectly categorised rather than as a result of real change 'on the ground'. In 2013, many Councils re-classified long-term empty properties and second homes, which resulted in an apparent rise in the annual increase in the number of occupied dwellings. The re-classifications were due to Council Tax changes, both in the charging of long-term empty properties and the definition of such properties and second homes. Those Council areas with the biggest changes had all carried out re-classification exercises. This makes it difficult to determine how much of the change in these areas was due to homes being brought back into use. It is possible that not all information held on Council Tax billing systems is up-to-date. For example: Councils may not be notified immediately of a change in the circumstances of a household which affects eligibility for a Council Tax discount or exemption. Furthermore it may take time for changes as a result of new building or demolition to be recorded.

The statistics are also provided in Excel, PDF and CSV formats on the NRS website. They are designed to be consistent, and incorporate comparable historical data where appropriate.

It is the policy of the NRS to make its website and products accessible according to published guidelines. More information is available in the Accessibility section of the NRS website.

The statistics are mainly used for informing Councils’ decisions about housing need and service provision. They are also used as the denominator for other statistics (e.g. the percentage of households receiving benefits).

Data is received from Council Tax billing systems on the first Monday of September each year and published the following summer.

When uploading the 2018 data the 2017 value for Aberdeen City was revised down slightly to take into account the increased number of student halls in the area

Household estimates were slightly revised from 2012-2016 due to improved data on student accommodations. The revision is a decrease of less than 1.5%.

In 2015, revisions were made to the household estimates previously published for Shetland Islands (2007-2014), City of Edinburgh (2014) and West Lothian (2013-2014). For full details see the Estimates of households and dwellings in Scotland, 2015 publications on the NRS website. Revisions and corrections to previously published estimates are dealt with in accordance with the Scottish Government Statistician Group corporate policy statement on revisions and corrections - a copy of which is available on the Scottish Government website.