“Disgraceful waste” of empty homes on summit agenda
14 June 2011
Empty Homes are a disgraceful waste is the message to emerge from today’s [15 June 2011] crucial Housing in the 21st Century summit.
According to the Empty Homes Partnership, funded by the Scottish Government and coordinated by Shelter Scotland, greater commitment is needed from politicians and local authorities to bring 25,000 long-term empty homes back in to use.
Speaking at the summit, held in Edinburgh, Kristen Miller, Shelter Scotland’s Empty Homes Co-ordinator, said:
“Empty homes are a disgraceful waste of assets at a time when housing demand outstrips supply. We urge council’s to do all they can to bring empty homes within their communities back in to use. With 160,000 households on housing waiting lists, Scotland needs to do all it can to make use of homes we already have.”
The summit, where Minister for Housing and Transport Keith Brown will give a keynote speech, will outline key challenges facing the housing sector in light of the changing financial and economic context across Scotland.
Miller added: “It is encouraging that the Scottish government promised to extend the Empty Homes Partnership in their manifesto. Their commitment illustrates our belief that if protected and refurbished, empty homes can be a vital source of housing supply for communities suffering from chronic shortages of affordable housing.”
According to Shelter Scotland, housing demand currently outstrips supply, as shown by a 3% reduction in new build starts from 2009 to 2010.
The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership works with councils to help them bring empty homes back in to use. It is estimated that the cost of refurbishing an empty home is between £6,000 - £25,000. The average cost of a new build home in Scotland is £100,000, not including infrastructure and local services which are most often already in place around empty homes.
The summit is also set to address innovation and investment challenges facing the housing sector, as well as how private rented sector can be used to fill gaps in housing supply.
Miller added:
“Empty homes across Scotland must come to the forefront of addressing the lack of housing in Scotland. Since launching, 18 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have signed up to the www.reportemptyhomes.com website, where members of the public are encouraged to report empty homes in their communities.”
