The purchase of ex-local authority properties was approved by the council’s housing & health committee in February 2013. The ‘Buy-Back’ scheme has been taken forward against the background of increasing restrictions on the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme by Scottish Government legislation and also local council policy.

To date the council has purchased almost 50 properties from homeowners through the ‘Buy-Back’ scheme. These have been a valuable addition to the council’s housing stock. The properties have helped to address acute shortage of affordable housing across Perth and Kinross, and address the mismatch between demand from customers and the area’s existing housing stock profile.

Ex-local authority houses, cottages and ground-floor properties are of particular interest. There is a strong demand for single-person accommodation, so one-bedroom properties will also be considered.

The process for selling a property to the council is similar to selling on the open market. A Home Report is required, and the council will typically pay the Home Report value minus the cost of any repairs or improvements that may be required to ensure that the property meets the council’s standard.

Councillor Dave Doogan, convenor of the housing & health committee, said: “The Buy-Back scheme is an important initiative that is helping us to provide additional social housing for people who are in accommodation need.

“Like most other areas of Scotland, there is an acute shortage of social housing in Perth and Kinross. The Buy-Back scheme, along with other initiatives such as our extensive house building programme, is making more and more affordable social housing available for local people.

“I would encourage any homeowners living in an ex-council property to consider the Buy-Back scheme if they are thinking of selling their home. We are always looking for suitable properties.”

@PerthandKinross