The scheme involves the council buying long term privately owned empty houses and flats, refurbishing them and renting them out to tenants.

Catriona Arbuckle, empty homes officer with the council, said: “The homes are identified in areas where the council has a need for additional housing or where the purchase of a property will enable the council to take complete ownership of blocks of flats making communal repairs much easier to complete.

“Our Initiative is proving to be very successful and the benefits are there for all to see. We are providing additional homes for residents and improving the look and safety of local communities.”

A range of works has been carried out to give the latest property a new lease of life for a prospective new tenant including a new kitchen, bathroom, replacement windows and full re-decoration.

Properties considered for buy back must be empty and meet at least one of the specific criteria:

Over £5 million has been spent since North Lanarkshire Council began the scheme in 2013.

Owners of empty properties interested in the scheme should call the Private Sector Housing team on 01698 274105 or visit www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk.