Tackling Rural Empty Homes Kristen Hubert National Manager

We exist to promote and enable private sector empty homes to be brought back into use. We are funded by the Scottish Government and housed by Shelter Scotland.

Flytipping/Vandalism Safety concerns Loss of amenity & community wellbeing Costs to owners; neighbours &local services Wasted asset that could revitalise a rural community.

Time Empty: 2 years & 1 month The main reason the property was empty was because the owner had rented the property out and after the last tenant left it fell into serious disrepair. The Empty Homes Officer got in touch and gave advice on renovation, VAT discounts and builders merchants discounts which helped the owner decide to use a local builder to renovate the house. The owner was delighted with the completed renovation and his son has moved into the property. Now instead of the property being an eyesore in the community the family has the benefit of a fully insulated house with an efficient heating system and an upstairs extension. Outcome: As a result, the property was: Owner/family member occupied in Mar-15 Case study details supplied by Katrina Morrison, Vacant Property Support Assistant, Perth and Kinross Council

Empty since 2006 This property is located in a remote Island settlement on Mull. The Empty Homes Officer engaged with the new owner of this property that had fallen into serious disrepair to look at options to bring the house back into use. The owner was keen from the start to ensure that they provided affordable housing and a sustainable property for new tenants. Due to the remote location and no social housing waiting lists to ascertain demand for rented housing, a marketing exercise was undertaken to identify if there would be anyone interested in renting on completion of works. This provided to be a worthwhile exercise and there was a lot of interest from potential tenants which provided the owner with the assurance that they would be able to secure a tenant on completion of works. Due to the length of time the house had been empty the owners were eligible for reduced VAT rate of 5% which helped reduced renovation costs. Outcome: Renovation works were undertaken and the new tenant moved into the house in May 2015 and has expressed how happy she is with the property. Details provided by Kelly Ferns, Empty Homes Officer Argyll & Bute Council.

Training & Best Practice Empty Homes Advice Service Local Project Support Shared Service Incubator Projects Raising Awareness Policy Recommendations

Since the launch the Empty Homes Advice Service there have been over 250 enquiries including complaints about properties and requests for help from empty home owners. Where a local service exists a referral is made. Where a local service doesn’t exist the Empty Homes Adviser tries to pursue case work to demonstrate what is possible.

The owner had lived in the property for decades. No routine maintenance. Improvement notices enforced Closing order enforced and elderly owner rehoused with a sheltered, council tenancy. LA prepared a case for CPO in 2012 but this stalled and the case was left dormant for about 3 years. The Empty Homes Advisor was asked for help on this case from the new empty homes lead at the council. The property was now causing water ingress and damage to neighbours’ properties and causing significant reduction of amenity in a high demand housing area. A number of escalated complaints from neighbours and the LA was considering recommending CPO again.

EHA established a positive working relationship with the owner, agreed regular contact and information sharing. EHA worked with the owner and the council officer to promote his understanding of the current situation by helping to arrange architects and builders quotes and go through the range of options available to him. Owner having difficulty making decisions so the EHA referred him to a local advocacy project for older people who provided him with the additional time required to help the owner make informed decisions. As a result of these interventions, the owner made a decision that selling the property prior to refurbishment would be his preferred outcome. The property exchanged in late Jan The new owner intends to renovate it for sale. Supporting the owners to face up to the problems caused by his property and then to obtain realistic information about what the options were led to the owner being able to agree a way forward. He is now being supported to integrate into the community. Total engagement time approx. 6 months.

The council involved in this case is now considering developing their own empty homes service.

The Local Project Service aims to assist multi-unit empty homes projects to come to fruition. Ideas Making connections Funding & funding bids Developing project plans Sounding board & assistance from start to finish. Local Projects Service

Who is the local projects service for? Local authorities RSLs Developers Community Groups (doesn’t need to be multi-unit) Social Enterprises Any setting Any empty private property intended for residential end use.

Current project Dreadnought Hotel, Bathgate Former hotel, empty for over 8 years Joint project between Council and RSL Made connections and provided ideas for use Produced project plan In the process of being acquired by the council and leased to RSL to let/manage the tenancies 8 units for affordable rent, out of one empty property, due in autumn 2016

Current project Common Weal, Moray Community group working principally in Forres Intention to bring empty homes back into use in area where need is great and supply is not Showed examples of previous, similar projects Helped make connections to people with expertise who helped, including at local authority Sought out potential sources of funding, and helped with funding applications Properties due to come back into use summer 2016

Social Finance One off bid funds Rural Housing Fund Council Loans & Grants Shared Services Funding

Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute

Contacts: Kristen Hubert Empty Homes Advice Service Local Projects Support