One home has lain empty since 1993

One thousand homes have been lying empty for 10 years despite Scotland being in the grip of a housing crisis.

Figures show that 20,000 homes have been lying vacant for several years with 1,000 of these empty for more than a decade.

The statistics were obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats who are calling on the Scottish Government to launch an initiative to renovate the properties to bring them back into use.

Examples of empty housing were discovered across Scotland, with Midlothian Council saying it knew of one home that’s been empty since April 1993.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “Thousands of houses and flats across the country have been empty for years on end.

“With the right incentives and help, many of these could be resurrected.”

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership says it costs £6000 to £25,000 to refurbish an empty home, compared with the average £100,000 new build cost.

Rennie said: “It is typically far cheaper to renovate an existing home than it is to build a new one.

“That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for the Scottish Government to introduce a new help-to-renovate loan to get existing vacant properties up to scratch and back in use.”

Last week it was revealed there are more than 6500 children living in temporary accommodation.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Ensuring everyone has access to a safe, warm and affordable place to call home lies at the heart of our ambition for a fairer Scotland.

“Core to that is our commitment to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over this parliament.

“While that is challenging, we have shown before that we can deliver.

“That is why we have committed more than £756 million this year for our Affordable Housing Supply Programme.”