South Ayrshire Council are urging owners of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use to help free up available properties in the region.

The local authority operates an Empty Homes initiative, which over the last two years has seen more than 50 homes brought back into permanent use.

With around 500 houses currently empty across South Ayrshire, the council has called on private owners to explore ways of bringing these properties back onto the market.

Loans of up to £20,000 are also available for owners of empty properties to carry out repairs and refurbishments on the condition that the property is rented at an affordable rate.

One property, 96 St Leonard's Road in Ayr, had fallen into disrepair after the previous owner moved away.

Following concerns about vandalism and anti-social behaviour, the council helped the owners find a buyer through its Matchmaker Scheme. The property was eventually sold to Helco Developments in December and is now ready for use as a family home following a full refurbishment.

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David Burns, the council's Head of Housing and Facilities, said: "Demand for housing remains high and there are a large number of properties in South Ayrshire that could be quickly brought back into use.

"Properties that have fallen into disuse can quickly deteriorate, making them less attractive to prospective tenants and a financial burden to their owners, but help is available that could transform buildings for the common good.

"We are already talking to a number of owners and buyers with the aim of seeing even more families welcomed to refurbished properties and would urge anyone with an interest in finding out more to get in touch."

Shaheena Din, Scottish Empty Homes Partnership national manager, said: "With 34,000 privately owned properties sitting empty for more than six months in Scotland it is encouraging to see that in South Ayrshire real progress is being made to bring buildings back into use.

"Reducing the number of long-term empty homes has a part to play in easing the housing crisis which is leaving so many without a safe and secure home they can afford."

In December, the council agreed a target to build a new generation of affordable homes to help meet existing needs. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) will pave the way for almost 600 new homes to be built in the next five years.

(LM/MH)