Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Statistics: 1997-98 to 2022-23 (near actuals) & 2023-24 (estimates)						

					

											
5 December 2023

									

			

					

	




    



    
        


            

                


                    

                        
The latest HRA statistics for the year 2022-23 have been published. The report and associated tables contain a wealth of information on the financial health of the local authority housing sector including that total HRA income is now over £1.4b whilst the stock, now standing at an estimated 320,000 homes has continued the growth trend that started in 2018 and is now back at levels not seen since 2009.


Rents rose above inflation in all but three years between 1997 and 2021 but have since fallen by nearly 9% in real terms. Rent rises in 2022-23 were 6.8% below inflation.


There are other, less positive trends, including the continued growth in debt levels now at £4.98b. Loan charges take 25% of total income whilst the revenue surpluse (CFCR) available to support the investment programme has dropped significantly from around £220m to £180m. Void rent loss has also risen sharply. The full report, tables and charts can be found here but watch out for a more detailed analysis currently being prepared by Scotland’s Housing Network.