Housing - estimated housing by tenure (c04)

• This measures the estimated number of dwellings in North Lanarkshire by tenure (i.e. owner occupied, private rented, vacant or second home, housing association, and local authority).
• Data is updated each year using information from Housing Statistics Annual Returns, stock figures from the Scottish Housing Regulator and National Records of Scotland dwelling counts, and the Scottish Household Survey.
• Estimates for owner occupier and rented privately categories for 2020 are not directly comparable to previous years, due to the change in the methodology of the Scottish Household Survey in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Why this matters

• Measuring tenure patterns highlight where housing is affordable and secure - and where it is not - helping identify areas facing limited housing options so that investment and regeneration can be targeted where they will have the greatest impact.
• It also shows whether people have genuine choice in the types of homes available to them, ensuring that different needs, life stages, and incomes can be supported.

Latest performance

How North Lanarkshire has performed

Estimated number of dwellings

• In terms of overall dwellings, there were an estimated 160,073 households in North Lanarkshire in 2023 - which is an increase of 4.1% over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire, compared to a 4.8% increase in Scotland overall.

Housing tenure

• Figures 04a shows dwellings in North Lanarkshire by tenure, with the largest proportion being owner occupied which has seen a 10.2% increase over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire (compared to an 8.2% increase in this tenure in Scotland overall).
• Other significant changes of note in tenure in North Lanarkshire over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire are in housing association tenure (an increase of 10.6%), and private rented (a decrease of 25%) compared to an 8.9% increase in housing association tenure and 8.9% decrease in private rented in Scotland overall

There is a time lag in this data at a local authority level, with the 2023 update published in May 2025 being the most up to date position available.

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

Improving housing tenures increases affordability, security, quality, and choice, helping to create more stable, resilient, and prosperous communities. A better tenure balance reduces pressures associated with insecure or unaffordable housing, leading to improved health and wellbeing, stronger educational outcomes, and greater household stability. It also broadens the range of homes available, giving people real choice that matches their needs, life stage, and income. 

At a community level, a healthier mix of housing options reduces concentrations of deprivation and strengthens community cohesion. Economically, improved housing tenures support access to employment, increased disposable income (by reducing housing cost burdens), and helps attract investment into places that are seen as stable and vibrant.