More than 700 long-term private empty homes have been brought back into use across Scotland.

According to the annual report from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) 742 homes lying empty were brought back into use in 2017.

Figures also revealed 20 councils now have an active Empty Homes Officer and 26 councils were now applying the Vacant Dwelling Council Tax Levy - doubling the council tax on empty homes.

Shaheena Din, National Project Manager of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: "Our latest annual report shows that Scotland continues to make good progress on reducing the number of privately-owned empty homes across Scotland, but there is a long way to go. Our good progress so far is largely down to the buy-in from the majority of local authorities and continued support from the Scottish Government.

-- Advertisement --

"It's fantastic to know that last year we helped local authorities across Scotland to bring an average of two empty homes per day back into use and that 3,216 empty properties have now been brought back into use over the lifetime of the partnership so far.

"However, there is still plenty of room to make a bigger impact. Our aim is to target as many of the remaining 37,000 long-term privately owned empty homes as possible by getting the 10 councils who don't currently have an empty homes officer to invest in empty homes work in their area. We shall be contacting them to make the case that bringing empty homes back into use is a positive move for the community and the council – bringing clear and tangible social and economic benefits."

Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart MSP added: "Making sure everyone has access to a safe, warm place to call home is a priority for the Scottish Government. That's not just about building new homes, but making better use of existing stock. Long-term empty homes can be a blight on communities and are a wasted resource at a time when we need more homes – bringing them back into use is a cost-effective way to increase supply and support community regeneration.

"The work of Empty Homes Officers across Scotland has proven invaluable, and local authorities across the country are embracing its work. I hope to see every area capitalising on those opportunities, to realise our ambitions of an empty homes service in each local authority and to bring back as many long-term empty homes as we can."

(CM)