Scottish parties promise action on empty homes

The Scottish National Party (SNP) – odds-on favourite with bookmakers to secure an overall majority in the 5 May poll – is pledging to use flexible grants, loans and guarantees to encourage homeowners to bring empty homes back into use for rent or purchase.

In its manifesto, the Conservative Party is promising to introduce a Help to Rebuild fund to bring empty properties back into use. The Liberal Democrats have also promised Help to Renovate loans to encourage homeowners to make empty properties fit for living in.

Official statistics show there were 36,419 properties in Scotland which had been empty for six months or more at the end of 2015. This is more than double the number in 2005. Homelessness charity Shelter, however, says the increase could be due in part to improved data from councils.

The parties are also keen to promote homeownership with the SNP promising a successor to the Help to Buy scheme which will focus on affordable homes worth no more than £230,000.

The party has also pledged £195m over three years to help 6,500 households buy a new build home. The Liberal Democrats have said they will use a proportion of UK government funding to build new housing association properties as well as Help to Buy.

Labour said those who save up to £3,000 through a first-time buyer ISA would be entitled to an extra £3,000 from government.

All parties have promised to build more homes with Labour pledging 60,000 new homes over the next five years with 45,000 of these for social rent. The SNP announced last year it would build 50,000 affordable homes over the next parliament, whereas the Conservatives promised 100,000 new homes. The Liberal Democrats pledged 50,000 new homes and the Green Party 12,000 new social rent homes.

The Conservatives said they would bring back Right to Buy, which was abolished by the SNP, but would ringfence receipts for social housing.