Annual Impact Report 2024

The difference EHOs can make

27 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have at least one empty homes officer or equivalent.

6 local authorities have more than one, following recruitment of a second EHO to work specifically on empty homes for key health and social care workers in Argyll and Bute in 2023 last year and recruitment of a second EHO in Fife earlier this year. At the time of writing, City of Edinburgh are also in the process of recruiting a second EHO.

The empty homes audit noted that ‘The most effective means of bringing properties back into use is through an EHO being employed to prioritise empty homes action’ and that ‘The role of the local authority Empty Homes Officer (EHO) is a critical resource in supporting owners with information and advice, and to influence owners to bring homes back into use. Critical success factors in the EHO’s role are the importance of understanding local housing markets, and taking a bespoke approach, responsive to individual empty homeowners’ needs to build trust and persuade.’

The work of the empty homes team in North Ayrshire and the Home Improvement Officer in Moray council highlight the differences EHOs make.