The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership exists to help councils and their partners pursue work to bring private sector empty homes back into use.  The project is funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland.

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership Team at Shelter Scotland has recently expanded with a new service to take advantage of.

Empty Homes Advice Service

The Empty Homes Advice Service is being launched on the 16th of June.

What does the Empty Homes Advice Service do?

  • Provide first level empty homes advice to empty home owners, neighbours and organisations interested in empty homes work.
  • Make referrals to our network of local Empty Homes Officers working in Scotland’s Local Authorities.
  • Follow up on empty homes reports and pursue empty homes case work in areas without a local empty homes service (to demonstrate the art of the possible).
  • Provide information on where empty homes grants and loans are available throughout the country and link into local Empty Homes Matchmaker Schemes.

If you know of an empty home or property in your area, call 0344 515 1941 or email emptyhomes@shelter.org.uk.

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership exists to help councils and their partners pursue work to bring private sector empty homes back into use.  The project is funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland.

According to Scottish Government data there are over 27,000 long term private sector empty homes in Scotland.  A property becomes ‘long term’ empty when it’s been unoccupied for 6 months or more.

Work on empty homes can achieve positive outcomes with regards to:

  • Housing Supply
  • Community Regeneration/Town Centre Renewal
  • Sustaining Rural Communities
  • Restoring Confidence in local property markets
  • Discouraging Anti-Social Behaviour (due to fire/vandalism/flytipping of empty properties)
  • Climate Change and Sustainability

Empty Homes cannot solve housing supply issues alone, but they can be part of a holistic solution to provide local affordable housing and to regenerate communities.  The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership provides support for councils to develop policies and processes that will bring private sector empty homes back into use.  This includes working closely with local council Empty Homes Officers.

For further information on the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership please visit http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/empty_homes/scottish_empty_homes_partnership