Dwellings by Type
type: Dataset
conforms to: http://mlcommons.org/croissant/1.0
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-20T15:57:41.258447
date published: 2026-08-20T15:53:37.659254
description: Data for 2018 on type of dwellings are not currently available. This dataset contains information on the number ('count') of dwellings in each data zone, split by the attachment type of dwelling (detached, terraced, flats, etc.). Numbers of dwellings at higher geographies are aggregated from these data zone estimates. Data on type of dwelling is obtained from the Assessors' Portal in December each year, or the following January. The Assessors are, amongst other things, responsible for valuing each dwelling in Scotland for the purposes of assigning it to a Council Tax Band. The estimated total number of dwellings in this dataset differ from those in the 'Household Estimates' dataset as these are extracted from a different source (Council Tax systems) at a different time of year (September). *All* This is the total number of dwellings on the Council Tax valuation list (excluding free-standing private lock-ups and garages). A 'dwelling' refers to the accommodation itself, for example a house or a flat, and includes second homes that are not let out commercially. Caravans count as dwellings if they are someone's main home. *Type of Dwelling* This information is based on 'attachment' - i.e. the type of property in relation to its degree of attachment to surrounding properties. This information has been aggregated into five categories: Detached; Semi-detached; Terraced; Flat, maisonette or apartment; and Not known. In some areas, this information is not available via the Assessors' Portal for every dwelling. Summary statistics for National Parks, Strategic Development Plan areas, urban-rural classifications and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles are published annually in 'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland', which is available on the National Records of Scotland [(NRS) website](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/households/household-estimates).
accuracy: Data on type of dwelling is obtained from the Assessors' Portal. It is possible that not all information held on the Assessors' Portal is up-to-date. Assessors are only able to reflect physical changes and alterations to dwellings once they have been sold and a reconsideration of the banding has taken place. Furthermore, it may take time for changes as a result of new building or demolition to be recorded. When using data zone level information on dwellings and households, changes over time can occur not only as a result of new building activity and demolition but also because of changes related to the postcodes of dwellings. Postcode changes can occur due to improvements made to administrative systems or NRS data cleaning, re-locating postcodes which were previously allocated to an incorrect data zones. Differences can also occur due to postcodes being allocated to a different data zone because the distribution of their population has changed. These differences are likely to be minimal and have only a small effect on change over time except when looking at small numbers of data zones. Attachment type of dwellings for 2015, and attachment type for some dwellings in Tayside for 2016, have been estimated by NRS and have not based directly on numbers extracted from the Assessor's portal in January. Information on attachment type was missing for 37,858 dwellings in Tayside in the January 2017 extract from the Assessors' Portal. Data was re-extracted in May 2017. Information about the attachment type of these dwellings in January 2017 was estimated by NRS based on their attachment type in May 2017. Of the 37,858 dwellings with missing attachment type in January 2017, 1 was found to be detached, 35,077 terraced and 2752 had unknown attachment type in May 2017. A further 28 dwellings were present in the January 2017 extract but not present in the May 2017 extract, possibly because they were demolished in the time between the two extracts being taken. These dwellings have b…
comment: Number of dwellings by type
completeness: It is the policy of NRS to make its website and products accessible according to published guidelines. More information is available in the Accessibility section of the NRS website.
confidentiality: This dataset does not contain any directly identifiable personal information.
consistency: The statistics are designed to be consistent, and incorporate comparable historical data where appropriate.
geographical coverage: S92
geographical coverage: S03
geographical coverage: S12
geographical coverage: S01
geographical coverage: S08
geographical coverage: S02
geographical coverage: S16
geographical coverage: S13
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2023-06-01
quality management: Postcode level information is extracted from the Assessors' Portal. Postcodes are used to assign data to data zones. The data is cleaned to ensure that all records are located in a data zone within the council area assigned by the Assessor. Records using out of date postcodes are also investigated to check that they are still placed in the correct data zone. Differences in total number of dwellings in a data zone outwith a threshold are investigated to determine if there is a reasonable explanation for the increase or reduction. Frequencies for variables (e.g. type of dwelling) are compared with earlier years' data to identify any potential issues. The results of postcode cleaning and quality assurance work are fed back to the Assessors' Portal each year.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2017
  start date: 2006
timeliness: Data for each year is downloaded from the Assessors' Portal in late December of that year or early January of the following year, e.g. 2013 data was downloaded on 7 January 2014. It is published in the following summer.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The statistics are mainly used for informing councils' decisions about housing need and service provision.
will be updated: true
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Housing
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
record set: records

National Records of Scotland
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service

Measurement
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Measurement

dwellings-type.csv
type: FileObject
description: Data file for Dwellings by Type
comment: Number of dwellings by type
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Type Of Dwelling
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: text
encoding format: CSV

Value
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Value

GeographyName
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyName

GeographyCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyCode

GeographyType
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyType

DateCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: DateCode

Type Of Dwelling
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Type Of Dwelling

Units
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Units