More than 8,800 households seeking social housing in the Highlands
More than 8,800 households are seeking social housing in the Highlands as pressure on available homes remains particularly acute in Inverness.
New figures being considered by Highland councillors show there were 8,826 applicants on the Highland Housing Register at the end of March – an increase from 8,767 a year earlier.
Despite 1,592 households being given secure tenancies during 2025/26, demand remains high across the region.
The figures are contained in Highland Council’s annual review of social housing allocations, which goes before its Housing and Property Committee on Wednesday 12 August.
Inverness is experiencing the greatest pressure.
Some 42% of applicants selected Inverness as the place where they would most like to live, but a shortage of available properties meant only 29% of homes let through the register were in the city.
Lochaber accounted for 10% of applicants’ first choices, followed by Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross at 9%.
The council’s analysis found the greatest overall pressure on social rented housing was in Inverness, followed by Lochaber and East Ross.
Smaller homes are particularly sought after. Half of applicants are single people, while a further 9% are couples.
Around 31% of people on the register are already tenants of one of the participating social landlords and are seeking a transfer to another property.
A third of applicants are either privately renting or living with parents or other relatives, while more than one in 10 are living in temporary homeless accommodation.
The number of households securing a home through the register fell slightly during the year.
A total of 1,592 households were housed in 2025/26, compared with 1,620 during the previous year.
That was despite the number of social homes covered by the register increasing by 148.
The council said fewer existing properties became available for re-let, in part because tenants were remaining in their homes for longer.
The Highland Housing Register provides a single application system covering Highland Council and housing associations including Albyn, Caledonia, Cairn, Lochalsh and Skye and Lochaber.
The latest figures add to concerns over the availability of housing across the Highlands, where a shortage of homes has increasingly been linked to the ability of communities to retain workers and accommodate economic growth.
Highland Council declared a Housing Challenge in June 2024 in response to existing shortages and predictions of substantially greater demand associated with investment and new employment.
Its original housing supply target identified a requirement for 24,235 new homes over 10 years.
There were 880 homes completed across all tenures in the Highlands during 2025/26, down from 1,000 the previous year. Of those, 499 were affordable homes.
The council has warned that failing to increase supply could constrain economic growth while adding further pressure to the existing housing market.
Its report to councillors concludes that in many parts of the Highlands the number of homes becoming available for rent is simply unable to meet demand.
A new Housing Need and Demand Assessment is also being prepared and will help determine where future development should be targeted.
The findings will feed into the next Strategic Housing Investment Plan, Local Development Plan and Local Housing Strategy as the council attempts to increase the supply of homes across the region.
Meanwhile, councillors are being asked today to approve a £116.151 million Housing Revenue Account capital programme for 2027–2032 – £28 million more than the previous five-year programme.
The money would fund roofs and structural work, kitchens and bathrooms, heating upgrades, insulation, windows, doors, environmental improvements and adaptations for disabled or older tenants. The proposed total comprises £79.164m of planned works, £31.988m of reactive investment and £5m for equipment and adaptations.
More than 8,800 households are seeking social housing in the Highlands as pressure on available homes remains particularly acute in Inverness.
New figures being considered by Highland councillors show there were 8,826 applicants on the Highland Housing Register at the end of March – an increase from 8,767 a year earlier.
Despite 1,592 households being given secure tenancies during 2025/26, demand remains high across the region.
The figures are contained in Highland Council’s annual review of social housing allocations, which goes before its Housing and Property Committee on Wednesday 12 August.
Inverness is experiencing the greatest pressure.
Some 42% of applicants selected Inverness as the place where they would most like to live, but a shortage of available properties meant only 29% of homes let through the register were in the city.
Lochaber accounted for 10% of applicants’ first choices, followed by Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross at 9%.
The council’s analysis found the greatest overall pressure on social rented housing was in Inverness, followed by Lochaber and East Ross.
Smaller homes are particularly sought after. Half of applicants are single people, while a further 9% are couples.
Around 31% of people on the register are already tenants of one of the participating social landlords and are seeking a transfer to another property.
A third of applicants are either privately renting or living with parents or other relatives, while more than one in 10 are living in temporary homeless accommodation.
The number of households securing a home through the register fell slightly during the year.
A total of 1,592 households were housed in 2025/26, compared with 1,620 during the previous year.
That was despite the number of social homes covered by the register increasing by 148.
The council said fewer existing properties became available for re-let, in part because tenants were remaining in their homes for longer.
The Highland Housing Register provides a single application system covering Highland Council and housing associations including Albyn, Caledonia, Cairn, Lochalsh and Skye and Lochaber.
The latest figures add to concerns over the availability of housing across the Highlands, where a shortage of homes has increasingly been linked to the ability of communities to retain workers and accommodate economic growth.
Highland Council declared a Housing Challenge in June 2024 in response to existing shortages and predictions of substantially greater demand associated with investment and new employment.
Its original housing supply target identified a requirement for 24,235 new homes over 10 years.
There were 880 homes completed across all tenures in the Highlands during 2025/26, down from 1,000 the previous year. Of those, 499 were affordable homes.
The council has warned that failing to increase supply could constrain economic growth while adding further pressure to the existing housing market.
Its report to councillors concludes that in many parts of the Highlands the number of homes becoming available for rent is simply unable to meet demand.
A new Housing Need and Demand Assessment is also being prepared and will help determine where future development should be targeted.
The findings will feed into the next Strategic Housing Investment Plan, Local Development Plan and Local Housing Strategy as the council attempts to increase the supply of homes across the region.
Meanwhile, councillors are being asked today to approve a £116.151 million Housing Revenue Account capital programme for 2027–2032 – £28 million more than the previous five-year programme.
The money would fund roofs and structural work, kitchens and bathrooms, heating upgrades, insulation, windows, doors, environmental improvements and adaptations for disabled or older tenants. The proposed total comprises £79.164m of planned works, £31.988m of reactive investment and £5m for equipment and adaptations.