Introduction

The General Register Office for Scotland estimates that in June 2006 there were 11,596 households in the Western Isles. This is an estimated increase of 1% since 2005. Looking back further, this demonstrates a 2.8% increase from 2001 to 2006 (from 11,283 to 11,596).

 

The Western Isles has a distinctive housing stock profile. According to the Census, in 2001 there were 13,195 properties, of which 1,922, or 15%, were empty. Around 953 of these were second or holiday homes and around 969 are permanently unoccupied, equivalent to 7% of the total stock. In 2001 the total number of occupied households was 11,275.

 

The General Register Office for Scotland produces 20 year household projections for all of Scotland’s Local Authority areas every two years. The current assumptions on ‘Household Projections’ identify a 1% increase in the number of households in the Western Isles from 11,380 in 2004 to 11,460 in 2024 (with a peak of 11,690 in 2015).

 

Over the same period (2004-24), the population of the Western Isles is projected to decline by 15%. Therefore, most of the projected increase is the result of more people living alone or in smaller households. The average household size in the Western Isles is projected to decrease from 2.28 in 2004 to 1.92 in 2024.

 

Changes in household type between 2004 and 2024 are projected to occur as follows: 24% increase in ‘one adult’ households; 9% increase in ‘two or more adult’ households; negligible change in ‘one adult plus one or more children’ households, and; a 54% decrease in households containing ‘two or more adults plus one or more children’.

 

 

Households, Single Person Households, and Average Household Size,

Western Isles 1981 to 2024

 

Year	1981	1991	2002	2006	2024
Number of households	9970	10970	11224	11596	11460
Single person households	2140	3144	3840	4090	4890
Average household size	3.08	2.65	2.28	2.25	1.92
Average household size - Scotland	-	2.65	2.23	2.20	1.97

Source: General Register Office for Scotland (2006 Household Estimates and 2004 Household Projections)

 

 

Accommodation

HOUSEHOLDS by TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION – 2001 CENSUS
	Western Isles	Western Isles	Scotland
Shared dwelling	2	<0.1%	<0.1%
Unshared dwelling	11,273	99.9	99.9
house / bungalow	10,464	92.7	64.2
flat / apartment	758	6.7	35.5
caravan / mobile home	51	0.5	0.2
Total number of Households	11,275	100.0	100.0

Source: 2001 Census on SCROL

 

The majority of homes on the Western Isles are houses (bungalows and detached or semi-detached buildings). The proportion of flats / apartments is considerably below the national average whilst the proportion of caravans / mobile homes is marginally higher.

Of the 11,275 occupied dwellings in 2001, 93% were houses and 74% comprised of 5 or more rooms.

 

HOUSEHOLD SIZE - 2001 CENSUS
Number of people	Western Isles	Western Isles	Scotland
1 person	3,782	33.5	32.9
2 person	3,445	30.6	33.1
3-4 person	3,206	28.4	28.4
5 person +	842	7.5	5.6
Total number of Households	11,275	100.0	100.0

Source: 2001 Census on SCROL

 

Household size in the Western Isles is similar to the national average. Throughout Scotland, average household size is decreasing as the number of one and two person households increases.

 

 

Tenure

TENURE by POPULATION – 2001 CENSUS
	Western Isles	Western Isles	Scotland
Owned	19,538	73.7	66.4
Rented	5,722	21.6	30.8
from Council / Housing Association	4,022	70.3	67.6
from other social landlord	163	2.8	16.2
from private sector	1,537	26.9	16.2
Communal	905	3.4	2.8
Rent Free	337	1.3
Total Population	26,502	100.0	100.0

Source: 2001 Census on SCROL

 

The Western Isles has a distinctive tenure profile. The proportion of home ownership on the Western Isles is significantly higher than the national average. Around 72 % of households are owner occupiers, with around half living in croft houses. Correspondingly the proportion of the population renting is lower. The social rental market is dominated by the Council with the remainder primarily supplied by the private sector.

 

 

Condition

For detailed condition information and full survey results go to the Scottish Household Condition Survey. This survey looks at issues such as fuel poverty, heating and tolerable standards for housing throughout Scotland.

 

For information on Fuel Poverty in the Western Isles please view our Fuel Poverty Strategy 2005.

 

It is estimated that 10% of current housing stock in the Western Isles is below tolerable standards.

 

 

Housing Market

Due to the low number of sales however, it is difficult to estimate any house price trends. The BBC House Survey estimates that in 2006 the average house price in the Western Isles was approximately £83,000.

 

There has been some increase in buyers from the mainland, but there is little hard evidence to suggest they are paying higher prices than existing residents.

 

Although, house prices remain below those found in other parts of Scotland there are few properties coming to the market and therefore demand is currently exceeding supply.