Councils are set to receive new powers to tax empty houses in order to help raise money needed to build new affordable homes.

The proposed Council Tax on Empty Homes and Housing Support Grant Bill would apply to some 25,000 properties that have been empty for more than six months and are therefore liable to pay council tax.

It is estimated that upwards of £30 million per year could be raised to spend on much-needed affordable housing in Scotland if councils implemented the bill.

The introduction of the bill would also result in the abolishment of the Housing Support Grant, which was originally established to subsidise local authorities' housing budgets by helping pay the interest on housing debts.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil launched a consultation on the proposals at Ibroxholm Oval in Glasgow.

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Mr Neil commented: "Although the public purse is under huge financial strain the Scottish Government is doing all it can to increase the supply of affordable housing across the country.

"One way to do this is to tackle the problem of empty homes, which are a wasted resource and often also a blight on local communities as they attract vandalism.

"It will be up to each Council to decide if they want to use the new powers, which could encourage more owners to rent or sell their empty homes."

The Scottish Government is also working in partnership with Shelter Scotland through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to encourage Councils to work with empty home owners and help them start using their homes again.

Director of Shelter Scotland who facilitates the government-funded Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Graeme Brown, added: "We welcome the proposals to give councils powers to tax the owners of empty homes. With 25,000 long-term private empty homes across Scotland, this is a step in the right direction.

"With 156,000 households on the waiting list, bringing empty homes back in to use can be part of the solution to addressing Scotland's housing needs. We urge councils to make the most of these new powers and to do all they can to utilise the houses they already have in their communities."

(JG/BMcC)