Compulsory leasing of empty homes in Scotland

Shelter urges the Executive to include a compulsory leasing scheme in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, giving local authorities the power to take management control of
empty homes for a fixed period.

Securing the re-use of a proportion of empty homes could contribute to the supply of affordable housing across Scotland, but this measure alone is inadequate. Bringing empty properties back into use should be part of a wider programme of initiatives that includes tacking low demand and market failure, tackling antisocial behaviour, the provision of affordable homes and ensuring that all homes meet a decent standard.