The number of refugees and other migrants declaring themselves homeless in Scotland has skyrocketed by 40 per cent in just one year, piling more pressure on social housing.

Homelessness in Scotland soared to a new record high in 2025-26, with an overall total of 44,443 homeless applications, an increase of 197 on the previous year.

But the figures were driven by a huge increase in applications from refugees and other migrants with leave to remain in the UK.

The 6,995 applications from refugees and other legal migrants was 39.6 per cent higher than 5,010 in 2024-25 and a 272 per cent increase compared to 1,880 in 2021-22.

It sparked calls for action to be taken by SNP ministers to relieve the strain on social housing.

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman James Adams said: ‘These figures show that Scotland’s housing system is undeniably under increasing strain due to a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers and refugees requiring accommodation.

‘The SNP cannot continue to ignore this issue and their savage cuts to councils as well as their refusal to reinstate proper local connection rules, are only exacerbating this situation.

‘The Scottish Conservatives would scrap the current rules and put local people first, ensuring scarce social housing is not stretched beyond breaking point. John Swinney needs to stop obsessing over independence and start getting a grip on the housing emergency unfolding on his watch.’

Official figures released on Tuesday showed that the 6,995 homeless applications from refugees, those with leave to remain and those from Ukraine in 2025-26 included 3,545 in Glasgow, which was a 28 per cent increase on the previous year. There were also 1,645 in Edinburgh, up from 1,015 in 2024-25.

There were 7,425 live homelessness cases in Scotland involving refugees or those with leave to remain as at the end of March this year, which was 42 per cent higher than a year earlier.

The Scottish Government statistics publication highlights that the largest decrease in the number of homeless applications last year was for those with white Scottish ethnicity, which declined by 1,075 or 5 per cent, while the biggest increase was for those with African ethnicity, which increased by 1,165 or 123 per cent.

Thomas Kerr, Reform UK Scotland’s housing spokesman, said: ‘The figures published today paint a grim picture of complete national failure by the SNP. Almost every critical measure is spiralling out of control. Temporary accommodation now holds more households than at any point on record, including over 10,000 children, also a record high.

‘Applications from refugees and those with leave to remain rose 40 per cent in a single year and now account for 17 per cent of the entire caseload, driving the highest number of open homelessness cases at almost 35,000.

‘On top of that, councils in Glasgow and Edinburgh are shouldering a wildly disproportionate share of that burden, with refugee and leave to remain cases now making up 44 per cent of Glasgow’s entire caseload alone.

‘The system is now so overwhelmed it can no longer process people out the other end, so families are left stuck in limbo for the best part of a year while ministers sit on their hands. This is why Reform wants to restore local connection across all local authorities, ensuring local housing goes to local people, young families and military veterans.’

The figures show that there were 53,842 individuals assessed as homeless in 2025-26, and that 10,715 children were living in temporary accommodation, which was up 5 per cent on the previous year and a record high.

The number of households sleeping rough the night before applying for help with their housing increased from 2,464 in 2024-25 to 2,949 the following year.

Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said: ‘These shameful figures demand urgent action from all of us across the Scottish Parliament.

‘Once again a record number of children in Scotland are stuck in temporary accommodation without the safe, secure home they deserve.

‘Thousands of Scots are being failed in a time of crisis and communities are being put under huge pressure.’

Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: ‘We are taking decisive action to tackle homelessness and increase the supply of affordable homes across Scotland, however we recognise the latest homelessness figures remain far too high.

‘We are determined to reduce homeless rates and are shifting our approach from crisis management to prevention and rapid rehousing.

‘Our £50million Homelessness Prevention Fund, £2million Fund to Leave scheme for victims of abuse and delivery of 1,500 Housing First tenancies all look to support people before they reach crisis point. We will continue to work with third sector organisations to aid early intervention, including our recent £2million investment for Social Bite’s work to end homelessness.’

Asked about the 40 per cent increase in homeless applications from refugees and those with leave to remain, the official spokesman for First Minister John Swinney said: ‘What is fuelling what you are referring to, it’s a UK-wide issue and it is the UK Government Home Office mismanagement of asylum policy. They are not giving adequate support to local authorities who are supporting asylum seekers.’

Asked about the pressure on social housing caused by rising migrant applications, he said: ‘I think it is important we don’t try to stigmatise people who have been granted leave to remain.’