The EHS has an annual target of 200-250 empty homes (so classified after lying empty for more than six months) being brought back to use.

There are currently 2641 long-term empty homes in Glasgow, and the Local Housing Strategy 2023-28 has a target of 1,800 empty homes being re-occupied over that period.

The economic advantage to bringing an empty home back to productive use is clear: it costs between £6,000 - £25,000 to renovate an empty property compared to an estimated average cost of £200,000 to build a new home.

There are a number of reasons for homes becoming empty, such as mortgage default and repossessions; deceased or untraceable owners; property title issues; and properties which have fallen into a state of disrepair.

The purpose of Glasgow’s EHS is to:

• Increase the availability of housing stock to meet demand, providing good-quality accommodation for those who need it;
• Offer home-owners information and advice to help bring properties back into use;
• Identify opportunities for suitable housing for particular groups, such as larger families, homeless people, and those with a variety of support needs;
• Tackle environmental and neighbourhood blight; and
• Safeguard the interest of tenement flat owners to facilitate common repairs work.

Glasgow City Council has a dedicated team of three Empty Homes Officers, who have now set up a comprehensive database and increased the number of reporting outcomes. The council’s website has been updated to provide contact information for owners seeking advice on empty homes and to make the reporting of empty homes easier.

Councillor Kenny McLean, convener for housing at Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow’s Empty Homes Strategy has been an outstanding success, bringing over 1700 homes back to life for people and families, and playing an important role in increasing the housing supply in the city. There is enormous demand for homes in Glasgow, and programmes such as this help increase the housing supply to meet some of that need.”