Vacant homes figures are on the rise in Scotland. Numbers like this haven’t been lower since 2003. The reason for an increase in vacant homes is low property values and matching low incomes. The latest report indicates the number of vacancies in Scotland sits around 106,300. An idea which is being passed around is for the vacant homes to be used for a supplement to homeless shelters.
Head of communications and policy, Gordon MacRae, commented on the possibility of the vacant homes to be supplied by the Scottish government to those who need lower-cost housing.
He said: “At a time when there is a shortage of funding for affordable homes and more people in need, local authorities need to use all means available to them and show innovation in encouraging owners to bring empty properties back into use.
“Whilst bringing good standard empty homes back into use can play its part, let’s not forget there is a housing crisis in Scotland and that many more social homes need to be built.”
Argyle, Bute, and the Western Isles are the three areas were vacant homes number the highest. The lowest proportion of vacancies can be found in East Renfrewshire, Midlothian, and North Lanarkshire.
Vacant properties are defined by the Bank of England as those which exist as a 2nd home, or those which are vacant for any other reason. Many times there is just a change in occupation of the home, from one family to the next. Or, the home is going into renovation. Possibly, the property is vacant due to a demolition in the near future. Whichever state the property is in, it is easy to label a property as vacant when there are no occupiers.
The Bank of Scotland’s, Suren Thiru, commented on the trend of more vacancies occurring in Scotland, saying: “It is clearly concerning that the number of vacant homes has increased for the second successive year following several years of decline.
“This is a trend that needs to be reversed, particularly within the context of Scotland’s longer term housing needs.
“Areas with high levels of vacant properties are often areas with lower than average earnings and property values.”
A member of the Western Isles Council is prepared to partner with the Scottish government to start reversing the increasing number vacancies.
A spokesperson for the council member commented on the empty homes government partnership, saying: “However, the main issue facing the comhairle is that most of these homes are not available for use.
“A large number are houses that people do not want to rent out or sell as they are kept for family holidays/family use.
“In addition many of these houses are in a very poor state of repair and would require substantial investment to make them habitable.”
The empty homes government partnership is not just a collaborative effort between the Scottish government and its individual councils. The government has also started an Internet website. The web initiative – reportemptyhomes.com – is a site where the general public can log on and report suspected vacant homes as well.
