The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) was the largest single housing research project in Scotland. Now conducted as part of the Scottish Household Survey, it is a national survey that links the physical condition of Scotland's homes to the experiences of its householders. Information gathered during a face-to-face social interview is linked with results from a physical survey of the property conducted by a building surveyor.

The survey:

• was the main source of information on the energy efficiency of the domestic housing stock in Scotland
• helped to monitor the quality of Scotland’s housing stock over time
• contributed to the understanding of factors that influence the condition of the housing stock
• provided a benchmark against which outputs from local house condition surveys could be measured
• has been used extensively for policy monitoring development in all areas of housing, such as fuel poverty and quality standards. 

Technical Note

Fieldwork on the SHCS started in January 2007 and finished at the end of 2011, with over 3,000 interviews and physical surveys conducted each year. The key findings from the survey, together with further information, can be found at the Scottish Government SHCS website. The SHCS is now conducted as part of the Scottish Household Survey.