Scottish councils urged to use 40,000 empty homes

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) has called on local authorities to use Scotland’s 40,000 long-term empty homes as part of their Covid-19 recovery plans.

The call comes ahead of the publication of official statistics by Scottish Government (15 December) that are expected to show an increase in numbers of properties empty for six months or more.

The partnership is expecting the figures to show a rise in the number of homes becoming long-term empty and a reduction in the number of long-term empty homes being returned to use as a result of the pandemic.

It is also concerned the pandemic has placed Scotland’s ability to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes at risk and believe empty homes can provide a cost-effective way of providing much needed affordable homes after the pandemic.

The average costs of returning an empty home to a habitable state is between £6,000 and £12,000. This is at least ten times lower than the average cost of building a new home.

According to the partnership, 21 local authorities in Scotland currently employ dedicated empty homes officers.

These officers work proactively with owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use and improve areas that have become the focus of antisocial behaviour and neglect. A number of others have delayed hiring due to the pandemic

‘The full impact of Covid-19 on the number long-term empty homes will not be known for some time, and it may well be that figures continue to increase,’ said national project manager, Shaheena Din.

‘We would therefore urge those councils to prioritise the hiring of these officers so that they can tackle the problem of long-term empty homes to increase housing supply, benefit the local economy and improve local neighbourhoods.

‘Bringing empty homes back into use can provide a vital income stream to businesses and the local economy.  Scottish Government figures show that every £1 spent on renovating property in Scotland generates £1.60 for the economy.

‘This is because someone repairing or renovating an empty home are likely to be hiring local builders and purchasing materials from local suppliers. This money is then further invested in the local economy,’ she added.

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