The introduction of the strategy would complement the existing new build council housing programme and the previously outlined activities within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for the local social housing sector.

The Open Market Acquisition Scheme allows for the purchase of properties in sizes and types that there is currently the greatest unmet need for within the city’s social housing supply.

Councillor Heather Anderson, neighbourhood services convener, said: “The strategy will be an important tool in adding suitable properties to our current supply of social housing stock in the city.

“By buying properties on the open market, using our best-value principles, we can help to more quickly and efficiently provide housing tailored to the needs of applicants in Dundee. If approved, we would be joining many other local authority areas in Scotland with the introduction of a strategy such as this.

“We will continue to maintain our new build programme, but this gives us additional opportunities to acquire properties which fulfil the housing needs of larger families, or individuals with specific needs, where suitable housing options can be in shorter supply.”

She added: “The strategy can also help with potentially bringing vacant private sector properties back into use, some of which may currently be in shared ownership tenements, allowing for refurbishment and improvement works where previously mixed tenure may have been a barrier to this.”

The report will be put to councillors at the city’s Neighbourhood Services Committee today.