Annual Impact Report 2024

Our recommendations

We know that there is only so much that the partnership and EHOs can deliver with the resources currently allocated to empty homes work. As more local authorities adopt a strategic approach to bringing homes back to use, the cost-effective role empty homes can play in addressing the housing emergency become clearer. Our recommendations this year are all aimed at ensuring that any barriers preventing local authorities from maximising the use of empty homes as an asset on our doorstep, are removed or reduced.

Local authorities apply flexibility in their application of the council tax premium and allocate some of the revenue generated through the premium on second homes and empty homes to bring homes back into use as social or affordable housing.

Local authorities recognise the essential role that EHOs can play in delivery of the National Acquisition Programme, through being the first point of contact with owners, establishing the barriers to bringing homes back to use and exploring options such as buy backs that they may otherwise not be aware of.

Scottish Government should consider the introduction of legislation for Compulsory Sales Orders and Compulsory Rental Orders as vital tools to force empty properties to market where they do not meet the criteria required to be suitable for Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Scottish Government should consider additional enforcement options where the last known owner died several years ago, and there are no surviving relatives that can be traced, or that are willing to bring the property back to use.