As reported in yesterday's Scotland on Sunday, Scottish Liberal Democrats have highlighted nationally concerns that 70 000 houses are lying empty across Scotland and urged that efforts be made to bring them back into use.Further to my update last month on the subject of empty houses in Dundee, in today's Courier and in the Press and Journal, I have emphasised that the City Council, Registered Social Landlords and others must redouble their efforts to get empty housing back into use to help ensure that targets to tackle homelessness are achieved.
It is clear from parliamentary answers from the SNP Minister for Housing and Communities that there are over 4000 Dundee properties lying empty and around half of these are in the social sector – most being owned by Dundee City Council.
I welcome Liberal Democrat calls nationally to look at ideas such as giving out grants to renovate homes and put them back into the social rented sector, and loans to put them back into the private rented sector.