Could the No Use Empty model be adopted by Scottish councils ?

Trailblazing Scheme Could Help Unlock Scotland’s Empty Homes An innovative scheme proven to bring empty homes back into use by providing interest-free loans to their owners could be adopted by Scottish councils. ‘No Use Empty’ is the brainchild of Kent…

Trailblazing Scheme Could Help Unlock Scotland’s Empty Homes

An innovative scheme proven to bring empty homes back into use by providing interest-free loans to their owners could be adopted by Scottish councils.

‘No Use Empty’ is the brainchild of Kent Council and has now resulted in more than £10million investment in empty homes across the county over the last five years and brought 1,627 empty homes back into use.

Officers from Scotland’s local authorities are set to find out how the scheme works from its project manager, Steve Grimshaw, of Kent County Council.  He is the keynote speaker at the Incentives and Enforcement Seminar being hosted by The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership on Wednesday 30th March at Edinburgh’s Victoria Quay.

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership aims to help councils find practical ways of bringing some of Scotland’s 25,000 long-term private sector empty homes back into use. It is funded by the Scottish Government and coordinated by Shelter Scotland.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity, said:

“Should Scottish councils wish to adopt or implement something similar to ‘No Use Empty’, it is thought they could do so by bidding for some of the £10m in the Housing Innovation and Investment Fund.  It is open to bids for innovative ways of providing a new supply of affordable housing – including bringing private sector empty homes back into use.

“Bringing empty homes back into use contributes to society positively on a number of levels – in particular through housing supply, local regeneration, supporting rural communities and community safety.

“At a time when there is a shortage of funding for affordable homes, we need to do all we can to protect and refurbish the homes we already have. There is a housing crisis across Scotland so creative funding ideas aimed at bringing more houses back into use are to be welcomed.”

No Use Empty’ has a £25,000 cap per unit and a £175,000 total cap per applicant. More councils in England are adopting the scheme and its branding.

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 Advisory Group brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the project which will also draw on good practice and lessons learned from similar work in England and Wales.

The Scottish Government 2009 review of the Private Rented Sector identified the need for a national post to support councils who wish to pursue empty homes work.  Kristen Miller has been seconded into the post ofEmpty Homes Coordinator which was created as a result of that recommendation.

For more information on the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, visit the Shelter Scotland website Empty Homes section.