Empty Homes in Scotland

PDF Published: Sunday 10 Nov 2019 (LGCS052019R10)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
  - Committee inquiry
- Background
  - Reasons for empty homes
  - Impact of empty homes
- Scottish Empty Homes Partnership
- Empty Homes Officers
- Empty homes and links to other strategies
- Measuring the scale of the problem
- Measures to tackle the problem
  - Funding and Financial incentives
    
    Council Tax Levy
    
    Other methods of funding and financial incentives
  - Enforcement powers
    
    Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs)
    
    Compulsory Sales Orders (CSOs)
- Annex A - Summary of Written and Oral Evidence
Sources

Image: Committee Members in Newmilns

Image: Committee Members in Kilmarnock

Image: Committee Members in Newmilns

Image: Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart MSP, giving evidence to the Committee on empty homes

Image: Committee Members hear first-hand about the issues in Newmilns from the local Empty Homes Officer

Image: Empty properties above retail units

Image: Committee Members in Kilmarnock Town Centre

Image: Committee Members Andy Wightman MSP and Kenneth Gibson MSP in a previously empty home in Kilmarnock which was being extensively renovated and repurposed

Image: Convener James Dornan and Committee Members visit a previously empty home in Kilmarnock which was being extensively renovated and repurposed

Image: Committee Members witnessing the impact of a number of empty homes on the community

National Records of Scotland. (n.d.) Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/household-estimates/2018/house-est-18-publication.pdf

Scottish Government. (n.d.) More Homes. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/policies/more-homes/

Scottish Parliament. (n.d.) Empty Homes in Scotland SPICe Brief. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/20190405_EmptyHomesScotlandSPICeBrief.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (n.d.) Empty Homes in Scotland - SPICe summary of Written Submissions. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/General%20Documents/20190612_EHS_SPICeSummaryWEvidence.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 2. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Note of empty homes fact-finding visit and community meeting in East Ayrshire on 24 June 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_East_Ayrshire.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Col 2. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. (n.d.) About us. Retrieved from https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/empty_homes/about_us

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. (n.d.) What we want. Retrieved from https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/empty_homes/what_we_want

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 3. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 16. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 6 and 7. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Note of informal empty homes discussion on 22 May 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/General%20Documents/20190522EmptyHomesLivedExpNote.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 15 and 20. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 2-3. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 8. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 5. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173&mode=pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Col 4. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 3 and 5. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Correspondence to Local Authorities of 20 September 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/20190920_MinLGHP_to_LAs.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 16 and 17. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 24. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 25. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 15. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Note of meeting with Celebrate Kilmarnock, 24 June 2019 to discuss NonDomestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_NDR_Celebrate_Kilmarnock.pdf

National Review of Town Centres External Advisory Group Report. (n.d.) Community and Enterprise in Scotland’s Town Centres. Retrieved from https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20160105024302mp_/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0042/00426972.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 7. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 14-16. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 14. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 4 and 5. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Col 11. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Correspondence from the Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy of 7 October 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/20191007_MinPFDE_to_Convener.pdf

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Empty properties and second homes. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/LTemptysecondhomes/EmptySecondhometables

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and Shelter Scotland. (n.d.) Written Submission. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_12_SEHP_ShelterScotland.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 11 and 15. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning of 20 September. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/20190920_MinLGHP_to_Convener.pdf

The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/728/contents/made

Citizens Advice Scotland. (n.d.) Council tax. Retrieved from https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/housing/council-tax/council-tax-s/#h-properties-exempt-from-council-tax

The Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Regulations 2013. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/45/made

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Council tax on second and long-term unoccupied homes: guidance. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/council-tax-on-second-and-long-term-unoccupied-homes-guidance/

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 9-10. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 6. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 4 and 5. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 12. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Perth and Kinross Council. (n.d.) Discretion on applying Council Tax Surcharges on Long Term Empty Properties. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/General%20Documents/SPR_Report_on_Flexibility.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 14-16. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 12 and 13. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 13. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Rural and Islands Housing Funds. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/policies/more-homes/rural-housing-fund/

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 13 and 14. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Rural Housing Scotland. (n.d.) Written Submission. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_10_RuralHousingScotland.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 18. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_10_RuralHousingScotland.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 23. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 17 and 18. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 4. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 5. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Argyll and Bute Council. (n.d.) Written Submission. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_25_ArgyllButeCouncil.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 17-18. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 9. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107&mode=pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 15. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Compulsory purchase orders: introduction. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/compulsory-purchase-orders-introduction/

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Compulsory purchase orders and acquiring authorities: guidance on CPO use. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-acquiring-authorities-use-compulsory-purchase/

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 7. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 11 and 15. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Falkirk Council. (n.d.) Written Submission. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/Inquiries/LGC_S5_19_EHS_08_FalkirkCouncil.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Col 13. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 6. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Cols 6 and 7. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 5 June 2019, Cols 15 and 16. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12173

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 8 and 9. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning of 16 July 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/General%20Documents/Empty_homes_inquiry_-_CSO_letter.pdf

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Col 9. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Col 8. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

Scottish Law Commission. (n.d.) Report by the Scottish Law Commission to the Scottish Government on the Consolidated Responses to Discussion Paper on Compulsory Purchase No. 159. Retrieved from https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/7414/7628/3513/Report_to_Scottish_Government_on_Consolidated_Responses_to_Discussion_Paper_on_Compulsory_Purchase_No._159.pdf

Land Reform Review Group. (n.d.) The Land of Scotland and the Common Good. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/s801513/Downloads/00451087.pdf

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Scottish Land Commission. (n.d.) Compulsory Sales Orders. Retrieved from https://landcommission.gov.scot/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CSO-Proposal-final.pdf

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Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 15 May 2019, Col 8. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12107

Land Clauses Consolidation Act 1845. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/8-9/18/contents

Local Government and Communities Committee. (n.d.) Official Report 4 September 2019, Cols 9 and 10. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12234

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