Act Now To Ensure Empty Homes Are Not Legacy Of Covid Crisis, Says Charity Leader

1st February 2021

Crumbling bricks, broken windows and overgrown gardens of empty homes across Scotland could be a visual legacy of the economic crisis caused by the Covid pandemic. Action is needed to bring more properties back in to use, according to the leader of a project working with local authorities across the country.

Shaheena Din, National Project Manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by Shelter Scotland, will tell the organisations 10th annual conference that local authorities must include working to bring Scotland's almost 50,000 empty homes back into use as part of Covid-19 recovery plans or risk them becoming the symbol of economic crisis.

According to Scottish Government figures published in December, 47,333 properties in Scotland had been empty for 6 months or more, up 16% (6370) from the previous year. More worryingly, the full impact of Covid-19 on the number of long-term empty homes is still emerging, and the figures may continue to rise for some time.

SEHP are also concerned the pandemic has placed Scotland's ability to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes at risk and believe empty homes can provide a cost-effective way of providing much needed affordable homes after the pandemic. The average cost of returning an empty home to a habitable state is between £6,000 and £12,000, ten times less than the average cost of building a new home.

Furthermore, bringing empty homes back into use can provide a vital income stream to businesses and the local economy. Scottish Government figures show that every £1 spent on renovating property in Scotland generates £1.60 for the economy. This is because someone repairing or renovating an empty home are likely to be hiring local builders and purchasing materials from local suppliers. This money is then further invested in the local economy.

Shaheena Din, National Project Manager for Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: "Images of empty homes came to symbolise economic decline and the loss of vibrant communities across Scotland in the 1980s and recent figures show the Covid crisis is already causing more empty homes in Scotland."

"We must act now to ensure empty homes do not become a legacy of the pandemic. By investing in dedicated empty home services, councils can help make homes available for those who need them, improve local communities and deliver a much-needed boost to local economies."

"No area is immune so we need the 11 councils without a dedicated service to create one urgently, and for all local authorities to prioritise support for bringing empty homes back in to use as part of their recovery and rebuilding plans."

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About Scottish Empty Homes Partnership

www.emptyhomespartnership.scot/

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by Shelter Scotland. We exist to encourage Scotland's approximately 40,000 privately-owned long-term empty homes back into use. At a time of a housing emergency we know that every home matters.

The partnership was first formed in 2010, after the review of the private rented sector identified that empty homes can play an important part in meeting our housing challenges.

Our aim is to bring as many privately-owned empty homes back into use as possible by meeting our four objectives:

Encourage every council in Scotland to have a dedicated Empty Homes Officer

Support the national network of Empty Homes Officers

Encourage registered social landlords, community groups and other private bodies to engage in empty homes work

Encourage councils to mainstream empty homes work

About the 10th Scottish Empty Homes Conference

The 10th Scottish Empty Homes Conference will be taking place on a new online digital platform, to allow for a dynamic conference, including interactive workshops and plenty of opportunities for networking.

With the theme Providing Homes, Helping Recovery, this year's conference will reflect on the work of the past decade and look at current challenges in Scotland. Best practices and insights touching on all aspects of empty homes work will be shared.

With over 1400 homes brought back into use over the past year - the highest number in the history of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership - there will be plenty of stories worth sharing and successes to celebrate.

Tickets are available at https://emptyhomespartnership.scot/conference/