The report has found that the rate at which RSLs are building new homes has fallen, and is projected to remain at a lower level for the next five years. The number of social rented homes becoming empty has also dropped in each of the last two years.

Taken together, this means that social landlords have significantly fewer homes available to let to people in need, including those who are experiencing homelessness.

Another key message from the analysis is that despite the lower number of homes available to let, both RSLs and local authorities have increased both the number and percentage of homes they let to people who were homeless.

Helen Shaw, director of regulation, said: “The Scottish Parliament has declared a national housing emergency, and this has intensified the focus on the supply of new homes and the best use of existing homes by social landlords. This is why we have published this early analysis of key data from landlords’ annual information returns.

“The analysis shows that the rate at which RSLs are building new homes has fallen, and is projected to remain at a lower level for the next five years. Alongside that, social landlords have seen a drop in the last couple of years in the number of homes becoming empty. Taken together, this means that social landlords have significantly fewer homes available to let to people in need, including those who are experiencing homelessness.

“Despite the lower number of homes available to let, both RSLs and local authorities have increased both the number and percentage of homes they let to people who were homeless.

“We will publish a full analysis of social landlords’ performance in achieving the outcomes and standards in the Scottish Social Housing Charter at the end of August, and we will publish our full analysis of RSLs’ financial projections later in the year.”