Highland Council launch bid to fill empty properties

A veteran housing officer should lead a "crusade" against the owners of empty properties in the Highlands by barging into company AGMs and demanding they release badly needed accommodation for people.

Liberal Democrat councillor Alasdair Christie called for tough action against landlords, like property investment companies, who fail to rent out homes.

He suggested that Allan Maguire, an experienced council official, should travel the country and turn up announced at the AGMs of firms who have property portfolios, in a bid to surprise and shame them into action.

It comes as Highland councillors agreed to launch a new two-year pilot initiative in the Inverness Central ward, Nairn and the Black Isle, where staff will try to identify vacant homes in areas of high need, assess the buildings’ condition and length of time unoccupied

A grant, worth up to £15,000, could be offered to bring a property up to scratch, while loans will also be available.

There were 1,345 empty homes in the Highlands in 2011 and about 10,000 people are currently on the housing list.

Empty properties are classed as those which have not been lived in for more than six months.

Tackling the problem created by public and private landlords is part of the SNP-Lib-Dem-Labour coalition’s programme.

Mr Maguire warned in his 30 years as a housing officer it was the most toughest issue to solve because of legislation.

"It is an extremely difficult area because of the complexities of trying to get people to release properties," he said. "It is not just a case of knocking on doors, there is a carrot and stick approach."

Wester Ross SNP councillor Ian Cockburn said the authority should also target landowners because there were several properties lying empty in the area.

Councillor Christie, who was critical of the number of upper floor empty flats in Inverness city centre owned by companies who rake in rent from shop tenants on the ground level, called for heavy pressure to be applied.

"I think we need to go on a bit of a crusade and target these landlords who are acting like parasites," he said. "I think this authority is well aware they should be shamed. We should be sending Mr Maguire to the AGMs of these companies."

Committee member Richard Laird (Inverness Laird) said empty homes in his ward was a constant source of frustration and predicted a successful scheme could add vibrancy into the city centre if more residents moved in.

Black Isle councillor David Alston pleaded with property owners to release vacant properties.

"At the end of the days there is amoral issue here, if you own property it should be in use," he said.

Mr Maguire said the pilot locations were chosen because they encompassed a city, town and rural area.

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