Record number of empty homes brought back into use across Scotland – Scottish Business News

A REPORT published today by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) shows that almost 11,000 long term empty homes have been brought back into use in Scotland since the partnership was established in 2010.

In its latest impact report, the SEHP reported that Empty Homes Officers helped owners to bring 1,875 long-term empty homes back into use in 2023-24. This is the highest annual total recorded and takes the total number of homes returned to use to 10,889 since the partnership commenced. 

The SEHP is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by Shelter Scotland. Its work supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to bringing empty homes back into use as affordable housing where possible. At a time when the Scottish Government, and ten local authorities in Scotland, have declared housing emergencies, the contribution empty homes can make to provide the housing Scotland needs cannot be underestimated.

Tahmina Nizam, National Manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership said:

“The impact of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and empty homes officers across the country was recognised in the independent audit of empty homes work published by the Scottish Government last year. It is demonstrated again by the figures in the report we have published today. 

“With more local authorities declaring housing emergencies over the past few months and the Scottish Government itself declaring a housing emergency in May, we know that bringing empty homes back into use will play a crucial part in meeting housing demand locally and nationally. The best way for local authorities to ensure we make full use of empty homes would be to expand their empty homes services and increase the resources they allocate to empty homes work as a whole.” 

The Impact Report highlights how a number of the local authorities who have declared a housing emergency – including the City of Edinburgh, Fife and West Lothian – are increasing their commitment to empty homes work by appointing additional empty homes officers. However, it also notes that Moray Council are planning to discontinue their dedicated empty homes service this month, which will mean that homes that could be brought back to use as much needed social or affordable housing will remain empty. A vital resource for neighbours faced with stress from living next door to an empty home will cease to exist. 

Scotland’s Housing Minister Paul McLennan said:

“This report demonstrates the benefit that returning long-term empty homes back into use can have on communities in Scotland. The Scottish Government has invested over £3.7 million in the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, including funding to embed dedicated empty homes officers within councils. Since 2010, this has helped to return almost 11,000 properties to active use, providing much needed homes for families.

“Bringing empty homes back into use is one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing housing stock and I want to see every local authority working with the Partnership. I want to make clear that councils can also utilise the ring-fenced revenue they derive from council tax on second and empty homes to fund these essential empty homes services.”

The report also includes updates on five kickstarter projects, part-funded by the SEHP, that were established to encourage more organisations to get involved in empty homes work. The most recent of these, is with the Community Impact Initiative (Cii). The project, launched earlier this year, is the forerunner to a multi-year program that will regenerate empty homes in Dundee to provide housing for people in need. The renovation work itself will be used to support over 180 local people to gain the skills and qualifications needed to move towards employment.