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Scottish government urged to invest in empties

Monday, 12 December 2011 1:59 PM

Shelter is urging the Scottish government to use the money raised from increased council tax on empty homes to fund a programme of renovation for the nation’s empty property.

Responding to a consultation on plans to give councils increased powers to charge up to double the normal council tax on homes that have been empty fore more than six months, Shelter Scotland called for “a package of carrots and sticks” for the nation’s 23,000 long-term empties.

At the moment, owners of long-term empty homes are charged between 50 and 90 per cent of the normal council tax. The first 50 per cent of the tax goes into council coffers and the rest is earmarked for investment in affordable housing.

The Scottish government wants to increase the maximum charge to 200 per cent. Shelter Scotland argues this will work best as part of a package that offers owners advice and assistance and loans if necessary. That means all the additional income raised has to be retained for affordable housing.

Shelter Scotland director Graeme Brown said: “This is a win for the owner, for the community and for the new occupants. The stick is the financial penalty on property that lies empty and unused for a long time and where the owner is not engaging with a local authority.

“But that will not happen if the additional tax income simply disappears into the general funds of councils. Scottish ministers need to make clear that they expect to see an empty homes dividend.”

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