A new Council fund to help bring homes in Midlothian back into use has been launched.

Currently, there are more than 23,000 long-term empty properties in Scotland, with more than 400 of these in Midlothian.

To try and tackle the issue, the local authority has established an interest-free loan scheme to bring the empty homes back into use. The loans will range from £2,000 to £12,500 and are available to empty home owners wishing to restore the property. The fund will be administered by Midlothian Council, in partnership with Dunedin Canmore Housing Association.

Refurbishment or replacement work can include kitchens, bathrooms, new boilers, storage tanks, painting and other jobs to bring properties back up to an improved standard.

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Commenting on the initiative, Councillor Owen Thompson, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "This is a great scheme to bring empty homes or run-down properties back into good use.

"This issue is often overlooked and not a lot of people know about empty homes, but it's a problem here and in the rest of Scotland. Empty properties can be an expensive problem for homeowners, they can also attract anti-social behaviour.

"We are delighted to be launching this funding programme, which will not only help the homeowner but the rest of the local community."

Kristen Hubert, Coordinator of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, added: "We welcome the measures by Midlothian Council to enable owners of empty properties to bring them back into use.

"Loans can form part of a holistic empty homes service and work best when combined with advice and support from councils on the many ways empty homes can be brought back into use.

"Empty Homes cannot solve housing supply issues alone, but they are a wasted resource which can be part of efforts to provide local affordable housing and to regenerate communities."

(JP/MH)