More empty homes officers in Scotland will be enlisted thanks to a £2 million investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in 2025-26, which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted approach in tackling local housing issues.
The funding will be used to help train and induct new recruits, grow services and ensure that empty homes are utilised, as well as bolstering support for local authorities to make compulsory purchase orders.
Housing secretary Màiri McAllen 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 the 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 homes matters as we work together to end Scotland’s housing emergency.
“In councils across the country Empty Homes Officers are delivering results, with other 11,0000 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 welcome more new Empty Homes Officers as they come into post and supporting their efforts to bring more homes back into use.”
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