Says Lesley Peaty, Regional Director for the Scottish Procurement Alliance
TACKLING Scotland’s housing crisis isn’t just about building more homes, although that clearly is part of the solution.
If we are to keep up with demand, then we need to address a problem which has been overlooked for far too long: empty homes.
The most recent figures show that in 2024, Scotland had over 43,000 homes classified as empty, with approximately 73% of those vacant for more than a year.
In its four-year Housing Emergency Action Plan (2025-2029/30) the Scottish Government pledged to deliver around 36,000 affordable homes over this period and provide stable housing for approximately 24,000 children and families facing urgent housing needs.
Empty homes were the focus of this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), with public sector and community partners, policy influencers, and sector leaders joining us to discuss and debate the issue.
Among the diverse range of voices were representatives of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Homeless Network Scotland, and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), all of whom shared practical guidance on managing void properties, streamlining renovations, and creating sustainable pipelines of homes returned to communities.
One word, however, was repeated regularly throughout the day: collaboration.
Grant Campbell, Head of Partnerships and Consultancy at Homeless Network Scotland highlighted the importance of collaboration between local government, housing associations, landlords, and third sector groups to tackle empty homes effectively and support people in need of secure housing.
Barry Sweeney of Homes for Good, Scotland’s first social enterprise specialising in providing homes for people on low incomes or benefits, talked proudly about how the organisation has renovated more than 340 empty properties to bring them back into use.
He explained how practical approaches to managing and renovating void properties, streamlining processes to minimise rent loss, addressing safety concerns, and overcoming utility provider challenges all contributed to the project’s success. It’s a model, he said, that others can easily replicate.
In the afternoon, John Addison of the City of Edinburgh Council shared the direct experience of managing and upgrading empty properties, highlighting how energy efficiency, decoration and maintenance all contribute to a property’s journey back to habitability.
If collaboration was the word of the day, the need for patience, empathy and relationship-building was its recurring themes.
Of course, among the many vulnerable groups looking for a home, there are some for whom the need is particularly acute.
Take for example women and children fleeing domestic abuse. In situations like this he seven to nine months it takes to build a new home can literally be the difference between life and death.
And for the homeless person on the street, the warmth and safety of even the most basic of homes is preferable to the cold stone of the high street. Providing safety and shelter for those in desperate situations must be a priority for us all.
It’s for this reason that much discussion at the AGM centred around tackling the practical barriers to navigating the empty homes crisis such as increasing costs, a national skills shortage, data protection and owner engagement.
Without support from the Scottish Government, these issues are going to remain blockers to bringing empty homes back into community use.
In attempting to resolve these problems, attendees shared experiences of working closely with local supply chains, the importance of using trusted contractors, and discussed the need for more flexible funding initiatives and innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable groups.
2024 research published in the IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, emphasised that access to affordable housing drives community revitalisation by attracting investments, improving infrastructure, reducing crime, and stimulating business growth.
Ensuring every person has a home leads to better health, stronger educational outcomes, and a significantly higher quality of life. It also helps create more connected, resilient communities. This is the future we should strive for in Scotland.