Bringing empty homes back into use could go some way to solving the country's housing problems says leading charity
Empty homes in Scotland are worth an estimated £4.3 billion and could be brought back into use to solve the country’s housing crisis.
The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) said Scotland's 27,000 unused properties had an average sale price of £160,000 once they are no longer vacant.
It is now urging the owners to do more to ensure they can be used again.
Run by the charity Shelter Scotland, SEHP has helped bring 1,200 homes back onto the market, with a potential of almost £200m, back into use.
But with 150,000 families and individuals on housing waiting lists, it said more needed to be done.
The SEHP revealed the value of the country’s empty homes ahead of the Scottish Empty Homes Conference in Edinburgh (17 November).
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Bringing Scotland's empty homes back into use represents great value for money but it also provides homes to families and individuals who would otherwise struggle to afford a home of their own, or would be forced into expensive private rents.
Bringing Scotland's empty homes back into use represents great value for money
“Not only have empty homes projects across Scotland helped over 1,000 families and individuals realise their dream of a home, empty homes work across Scotland has assisted the owners of these properties to make the most of their assets while regenerating local communities and neighbourhoods.
“While we acknowledge that empty homes alone cannot solve Scotland's housing crisis, they can be part of the solution to finding permanent and affordable homes to the 150,000 families and individuals across the country on waiting lists.”
Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: “Making sure everyone has access to an affordable home is at heart of the Scottish Government's priorities, and that's why we have increased our support for the work of the Empty Homes Partnership this year.
“We are working to bring empty and derelict buildings in town centres and across Scotland back into use by transforming these spaces into warm and comfortable homes - this is vital to improving access to affordable housing.
“It makes absolutely no sense for us to have homes lying empty when homelessness still exists in Scotland.”
