Research commissioned by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership found that while only 10% of adults in Scotland were satisfied with their council’s work to bring empty homes back into use, 43% believe councils should do more.

Respondents who rent their current home were even more likely to want more action, with 52% saying local authorities should go further.

The findings will be presented at the annual Scottish Empty Homes Conference in Glasgow tomorrow, which will bring the housing sector together to share knowledge and insight on tackling empty homes.

The latest Scottish Government figures show more than 43,500 homes in Scotland which have been empty for more than six months, with 73% of those having been empty for more than 12 months.

Tahmina Nizam, national manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: “In councils across the country, Empty Homes Officers are working hard to bring vacant properties back into use.

“That work is proving successful, 1,875 homes were brought back into use last year, but this research shows there is an appetite among the public for local authorities to press on and do more to address this issue.

“In the context of a housing emergency that shouldn’t be surprising; work to bring empty homes back into use has never been more vital.

“The increased housing investment in the Scottish Government’s budget will be welcomed across the sector, but no one is under any illusions about the scale of the challenge posed by the housing emergency.

“Empty homes continue to have a significant role to play in our collective response to the housing emergency, offering a cost effective, quick, and environmentally friendly way to drive up the supply of much needed homes.”