A range of actions are being carried out under Aberdeen City Council’s Empty Homes Policy, which has included working with:

• Landlords and letting agents across the city to ‘match’ people from council housing waiting lists with owners/letting agents of empty private rented sector properties through the Matchmake to Rent Scheme;
• Aberdeen Cyrenians to bring empty homes back into use for people who may otherwise have been homeless through their #Settled Homes for All’ project, and;
• Genealogists to identify owners of residential and non-residential long-term empty properties.

Aberdeen City Council’s Operational Delivery Committee welcomed an update on progress, which showed that 262 properties were brought back into use in 2021/22.

Convener Councillor Miranda Radley said: “Making sure that properties across Aberdeen are brought back into use is so important to help ensure that those most in need are given a home.

“This will reduce homelessness across the city and will also improve local communities.”

Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill added: “With winter approaching it is crucial that homes that are currently empty are put back into use and given to individuals and families who need them the most.

“We hope that council staff and partners working to deliver the Empty Homes Policy can continue bring even more empty properties across Aberdeen back into use.”