Sell up to solve housing crisis, Glasgow tells owners of empty homes

Scotland's biggest council has written to the owners of thousands of empty homes urging them to help end the city's housing crisis.

More than 2,500 vacant properties have been identified in Glasgow, where a housing emergency was declared in 2023.

Charity Shelter Scotland has said the "situation has deteriorated since then", leaving "thousands of children trapped in temporary accommodation".

Now the owners of disused homes are being urged to sell or rent them to ease pressures which have seen the average monthly rent of a two-bedroom flat in the private rental sector climb to £1,023.

Councillor Ruari Kelly, convener for housing and development at Glasgow City Council, said: "The supply of new housing has not kept pace with demand for decades, with the result that we currently have around 7,000 homeless applications and in excess of 4,000 households living in temporary accommodation.

"At the same time, more than 2,500 homes in the city are lying empty. That’s not sustainable.

"I’ve got an obligation - and a moral responsibility - to pursue any resource I can that might increase the supply of housing in the city. Addressing the thousands of vacant properties in Glasgow could be one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways of making a major impact."

While Compulsory Purchase Orders can be used to bring vacant housing back into use, the latest move seeks to avoid this by getting owners to handle sale or rent themselves. 

However, "practical assistance" is available "where homes require investment". This includes link-ups with charities with expertise in the sector and information about discounts on steps to make properties habitable.

SNP councillor Kelly said: "I understand that there are all sorts of reasons why properties may have fallen out of use and I want to do everything I can to support owners to create a home for someone in the city. If that means selling empty property, we can offer information on investors who are looking to buy.

"If the owners want to rent out homes, we can provide support for private landlords or connect owners with charities that are expert in letting property to alleviate homelessness. Where a home requires repairs or renovation to get it ready for rental, there are merchants’ discounts and VAT discounts that owners can take advantage of – and council officers can help them navigate that.”