Scottish Empty Homes Conference 2024
We’re delighted to announce that Scotland’s annual empty homes conference is back for another year. The 13th Scottish Empty Homes Conference takes place on Thursday, 29 February 2024.
An in-person only event, the conference takes place at The Studio, in Glasgow.
The Scottish Empty Homes Conference is the highlight of the year in Scottish empty home work and we couldn’t do it without our amazing sponsors. This year, we’re thrilled to have Scottish property experts and auctioneers Auction House Scotland as our headline sponsor!
Learning from the Past, Visions for the Future
Together we will explore past learnings and visions for the future – looking at what collective work has been carried out to date, the current status and how together we can use empty homes work to reach our shared goals of tackling the housing emergency, and meeting affordable and social housing need.
The event will include presentations from key figures in Scottish housing and project case studies, as well as announcements of the Auction House Scotland Scottish Empty Homes Awards.
Conference is also your chance to hear from the insight and lived experience of our empty homes officers and others working in this exciting and challenging field.
Join us for what promises to be an exciting and packed agenda, chaired by John Mills, Head of Housing Services at Fife Council and Co-Chair of ALACHO.
Agenda -
29th February 2024, The Studio, Glasgow
9.00am – 9.45am Coffee, networking and sponsor exhibition
9.45am - 9.55am Chair’s opening remarks
John Mills
Co-Chair, ALACHO and Head of Housing, Fife Council
9.55am - 10.05am Headline sponsor welcome
John Loudon, Auctioneer/Business Development Manager, Auction House Scotland
10.05am-10.40am Panel discussion: how can and should empty homes help address housing need?
Alison Watson, Director, Shelter Scotland
Cllr Robin Currie, Argyll & Bute Council
Joe Brown, Deputy Director More Homes, Scottish Government
10.40am - 11.00am Learning from the Past: the independent audit of empty homes work in Scotland
Anna Evans, Indigo House Director
11.10am - 11.25am Morning tea break / sponsor exhibition
11.25am - 12.40pm Sofa session: learnings from empty homes projects
Susan Aktemel, Founder & Executive Director, and Barry Sweeney, Head of Acquisitions & Development, Homes for Good
Isla Binnie, EHO and Douglas Whyte, Argyll & Bute Council
David MacPhail, Tighean Innse Gall
Harry Whitmore, Community-led Housing Coordinator, SOSCH
12.40pm – 1.40pm Lunch/ sponsor exhibition
1.40pm - 2.20pm Visions for the Future – empty homes work across Scotland
Lisa Borthwick and Andy Moseley, SEHP
Catrin Evans, Cii
Gillian Edwards, West Lothian Council
2.20pm – 2.45pm Introducing Cromore, a Western Isles empty homes project
Murdo Macleod, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Karis Beattie, owner of Cromore
2.45pm -2.55pm Afternoon tea break / sponsor exhibition
2.55pm – 3.20pm Auction House Scotland Empty Homes Awards presentation
John Loudon, Auction House Scotland
3.20pm – 3.50pm Ministerial Address and Q & A session
Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan MSP
3.50pm - 4.00pm Chair’s closing remarks
4.00pm Conference ends
We'll also wrap up the day with a special keynote address.
And the Auction House Scotland 13th Annual Scottish Empty Homes Awards will be presented throughout the day as a further spotlight on some of the inspirational people and work on empty homes taking place throughout Scotland today.
Awards
This year, for the first time ever, the Scottish Empty Homes Awards has launched a dedicated category open to members of the public who have turned an empty home in Scotland back into a home.
Now in its thirteenth year, the network of Empty Homes Officers and partners across Scotland with the support of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership have helped to bring more than 9,000 empty homes back into use since 2010. The annual awards recognise and celebrate this outstanding work, the achievements and dedication of individuals and organisations in revitalising empty homes across Scotland, transforming empty spaces into thriving places.
Anybody involved in bringing back empty homes is invited to nominate an individual (or themselves!), an organisation, or a project that they consider having made an exceptional impact in returning empty homes to use.
This year's categories are below:
Best Use of Empty Homes to Meet Social/Affordable Housing Need
Has bringing an empty home back into use met a particular housing need in your area? We would be delighted to hear about projects where existing properties have played a valuable part in meeting social or affordable housing need in your region. Of particular interest is the impact of the home to the individual or family who have been, or will be housed, and the wider community.
Winner - Grampian Housing Association
This property was a Ballater C listed school building dating back to 1877, in need of extensive repairs. Ballater is an area with a severe lack of properties to rent, a high number of second homes, and a long waiting list for council housing. Grampian Housing Association carried out a sustainable redevelopment and adopted a partnership approach, teaming up with Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Government to fund the repairs. As a result of this project, 24 social rented homes were delivered to help address local housing need. 12 houses were developed from the historical buildings, alongside 11 new build flats and one bungalow. This project implemented a local letting plan to make sure it served people in the local community and has had a positive impact on the economy and community as a whole.
Special Recognition Award
An award for a rising star who is making a positive impact on empty homes work, a community member who has gone above and beyond, or someone who has consistently shown their commitment and overcome obstacles to bringing empty homes back into use. We want to celebrate them!
Winner - Dawn Meston
In just 9 months, Dawn has produced many achievements as empty homes officer for Highland Council. This role had previously been empty for a long time and Dawn was able to not only review every case she inherited, but also double her active case load. Dawn also broadened the scope of empty homes work to cover a larger geographical expanse, offering support to both urban and rural owners for the first time in recent Highland history. Dawn has worked tirelessly to advocate for empty homes work within the council. She also prioritised cases where council tax arrears could be recovered, making a positive impact on the council’s budget. Dawn helped make hundreds of empty home owners aware of discounts and nearly tripled her original target for number of homes brought back to use.
Best Housing Renovation – Members of the Public
Have you brought an empty property back into use? We’re opening our awards up to members of the public for the very first time. We’re looking for photos and/or videos that can tell the story of how the empty space has been transformed and we want to hear the stories behind them. How long was the property empty, what works were required, and how is the property now being used as a home? Before and after pictures are essential! This award comes with a special DIY voucher prize for the winner.
Winner - Robert Tai
After first discovering this historical Department of Fisheries cottage in 2004 on the Isle of Lewis, Robert purchased this property in 2021. This isolated croft had been empty for over 15 years, was in a ruinous state, and was completely uninhabitable. At 63, Robert carried out the majority of the extensive renovations by himself, which required stripping the property back to the stone walls, and even collected most of his materials with his van around town. Robert also funded the project himself as he was twice denied a home improvement grant. In additional to financial challenges, Robert faced obstacles such as a storm that blew off the new porch roof he had installed and flooded the property. It took 8 months, help from his local MP, and media attention to get his supplier to turn the power back on. Robert persevered and in 2022 completed his first ever property renovation. This project serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved with empty homes!
Best Housing Renovation - Sector
This award is open to anyone working in and around the industry who has brought an empty property back into use. Photos and videos are encouraged, as well as the details behind the transformation. We’re particularly interested in details of the history of the house, the journey it went on and how it became a home.
Winner - Easy Hire Solutions LTD - Chalmers Street
Easy Hire purchased this Dunfermline property at auction and only learned after the sale that it was boarded up and in need of extensive repairs. This property had been empty since 2010, was the target of vandalism, and was in a general state of disrepair. Located very close to the town centre, this property served as an eyesore. Easy Hire carried out the renovation with a strong focus on restoring as much of the original materials as possible to ensure an ecofriendly retrofit. They faced challenges such as excessive debris, unsafe wiring, and even pigeons who had taken up residence. Following the extensive repairs, two flats have been brought back to use and they are currently working on developing the ground floor into a commercial space. This renovation serves as an important step toward achieving community regeneration in this area and has had a big impact on the townscape.
Best Environmentally Friendly Retrofit
This is an award for an excellent contribution to a sustainable future. What work was required to bring the property back into use, and why was the decision to retrofit made? What are the anticipated future impacts to the person living in the property? Please include any before and after photos. For local authorities, how did this project support your council to meet their strategic objectives, including those in relation to net zero?
Winner - Barnes House - Scottish Borders Council
This property had been empty for at least 25-30 years and was in a ruinous state. It was purchased by a local couple and with the EHO’s support they were able to access grant funding, VAT reductions, and council tax discretion to help fund the renovation. They faced the additional challenge of making an older period property energy efficient. They installed renewable technology such as solar panels, associated battery storage units, and an air source pump. This couple, with the help of Rachel Whale, the EHO for Scottish Borders, were able to save this home and achieve an inspiring EPC A rating for both energy efficiency and environmental impact. This project has brought a home back to use in the community and contributed to Scottish Borders Council’s goal for net-zero emissions by 2045.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Auction House Scotland
Auction House Scotland has been trading in the auction market for more than ten years, and is proud to support the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership as Headline Sponsor at the 2024 Conference.
Having successfully sold 65 properties over the past eight years through SEHP introduction, this relationship has proved to be of value to the business, the goals of SEHP and, most importantly, to the empty home owners themselves.
The Company comprises a team of experienced property professionals, and is well equipped to sell any type of property anywhere in Scotland – whatever the size, condition or circumstances.
Finders International
Finders International are award-winning probate genealogists. We trace missing heirs to property estates, funds and assets worldwide and offer this service FREE of charge to Empty Homes Officers. We have experience in swiftly locating and engaging with owners of vacant or derelict property and can assist in resolving disputes. Whether the owner is living or deceased, we aim to provide prompt solutions every time.
If you would like to get in touch with any further questions, please contact us on freephone 0800 085 8796, email [email protected] or visit our website www.findersinternational.co.uk.
Online Property Auctions
Online Property Auctions Scotland is a well-established auction company operating entirely online, letting our clients enjoy the ease of accessing an auction on their phone, tablet or computer.
Selling hundreds of properties each year, our goal is to modernise and simplify the property-buying process, keeping our buyers and sellers happy. We charge no selling fees to our vendors, so selling your property through us is free; we also frequently offer discounted or free home report surveys, allowing people who would struggle to afford to sell their property to move it on.
We cover all areas of Scotland, and have recently branched into England as well. We host our online auctions every two weeks, where you can bid in real time on residential, land, and commercial property.
Fraser and Fraser
Since 1969, our accredited firm of professionals has worked with the Public Sector, providing our free of charge family tree next-of-kin tracing service. We understand the sensitivity that needs to be applied to people-tracing services, which is why we are committed to carrying these out with tact, empathy and discretion.
For all your next-of-kin enquiries relating to s.46 Public Health Act funerals, Empty Homes, Client Financial Affairs/ Appointeeship & Deputyship and Guardianship call us 020 7832 1400 or email [email protected]
The Empty Homes Network
Established in 2001 in England and Wales, The Empty Homes Network exist to support councils, Empty Homes Officers and practitioners across the UK in bringing empty homes back into use, through the sharing of best practice methods, hands-on experiences, and tools to develop effectiveness and efficiency.
A non-profit organisation, we lobby and campaign for service improvement, increased resources and enhanced tools, and assist those with the least capacity and experience to gain confidence whilst ensuring that those who are more experienced have a platform to share, develop and innovate.
Our Training and Consultancy services are designed and tailored to meet an authority’s specific needs, and compliment support services already available. These include: a full service review, challenging case appraisals, and empty homes strategy development.