Additional empty homes officers are being recruited to bring more
privately owned houses back into use.
The new posts are being supported as part of a £2 million
investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in
2025-26 which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted
approach to tackling local housing issues.
Funding will also help to train and induct new staff, grow
services and ensure empty homes are utilised, including by
increasing support for local authorities to make compulsory
purchase orders.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said:
“Bringing homes back into use is a vital part of our plan to
tackle the housing emergency. When too many families are
struggling to find somewhere to live, it is unacceptable to me
that that houses should lie empty.
“It's important to help councils step up measures to turn
privately-owned empty properties into much-needed homes and it's
encouraging that local authorities have already come forward to
make use of this support.
“As the First Minister has set out, this government is determined
to eradicate child poverty – and tackling the housing emergency
by making sure families have access to a home is a crucial part
of that.”
Scottish Empty Homes Partnership National Manager Tahmina Nizam
said:
“Every home matters as we work together to end Scotland's housing
emergency.
“In councils across the country Empty Homes Officers are
delivering results, with over 11,000 homes having brought back
into use since 2010. The additional posts supported by this
funding will expand on that vital work. New Empty Homes
Officers are already in post at City of Edinburgh Council, while
recruitment is underway in several other local authorities.
“Homes weren't built to sit empty; every empty home has the
potential to transform a family or individuals' life but
collectively they have an enormous role to play in reducing
housing need and tackling the housing emergency.
“We look forward to welcoming more new Empty Homes Officers as
they come into post and supporting their efforts to bring more
homes back into use.”
Background
Home | Scottish Empty Homes
Partnership
The £2 million investment builds on a decade of funding for Empty
Homes Officers in 22 local authorities.
Council tax figures from September 2024 show that 43,538
properties across Scotland have been empty for more than six
months with 73% of these empty for longer than a year.
Nine local authorities have so far agreed to employ additional
empty homes officers.
