General description

Estimates of the number of dwellings in Wales by tenure and for each local authority, as at 31 March each year.

Data collection and calculation

Estimates of the number of dwellings are based on data from the 2001, 2011 and 2021 population censuses, updated annually to take account of dwelling stock through new build completions plus any gains or losses through conversations and demolitions.

This method of ‘rolling forward’ the estimates from a census provides estimates between the census years. However, after rolling forward estimates for 10 years, discrepancies are usually observed between the rolled forward estimates and the next census figures. The rolled forward method, whilst the best available methodology between censuses, is likely to produce less reliable estimates for years further away from the census base.

The tenure split for Wales between owner-occupied and privately rented dwellings has been estimated using information from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Full details of the methodology are in the statistical release.

Frequency of publication

Annual

Data reference periods

2000-01 onwards. Financial years. With the exception of Census years, the estimates presented relate to the end of each financial year i.e. estimates for 2023 relate to 31 March 2023.

Users, uses and context

The dwelling stock estimates provide annual base line information on the overall amount of housing stock at a Wales and local authority level. It is used as evidence for policy making by both central and local government. The data are used by the Welsh Government, local authorities and other housing organisations to help monitor trends in the overall level of Welsh housing stock, as well as any changes in its tenure distribution over time. Outside of government the dwelling stock estimates are used by the finance and investment industries, for example to help develop a picture of demographic trends.

Rounding applied

Due to the uncertainty around the estimates, figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

Due to the way in which the APS proportions have been applied, the Wales total may not equal the sum of the local authority numbers (and regions) for some tenures. The regional figures are calculated as the sum of the local authority numbers.

Some tenure breakdown percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Revisions information

Data for 2021 and 2022 has been revised. Following the publication of the Census 2021 dwellings data, dwelling stock estimates have been recalibrated against the Census 2021 dwellings count to ensure consistency with both the previous and latest census. Further details are available in the statistical release.

Title

Dwelling Stock Estimates

Last update

July 2024 July 2024

Next update

Not yet confirmed

Publishing organisation

Welsh Government

Source 1

Dwelling Stock Estimates, Welsh Government

Contact email

stats.housing@gov.wales

Designation

National Statistics

Lowest level of geographical disaggregation

Local authorities

Geographical coverage

Wales

Languages covered

English and Welsh

Data licensing

You may use and re-use this data free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License - see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

Statistical quality

The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as accredited official statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Weblinks

https://www.gov.wales/dwelling-stock-estimates
https://www.gov.wales/social-landlord-housing-stock-and-rents

Keywords

Dwellings Stock Houses Tenure Private sector Social sector

Name

HOUS0501