Disproportionate number of Argyll and Bute homes lying empty

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP), which helps bring long-term empty homes back into use across Scotland, has called for sustained investment and stronger strategic action to tackle the high number of long-term empty homes across Argyll and Bute.
New figures from the Scottish Government show 2,460 homes in the area have been empty for more than six months, with 1,607 lying unused for over a year.
Despite accounting for just 1.8 per cent of Scotland’s total housing stock, Argyll and Bute contains a striking 5.53 per cent of the nation’s empty homes – a disparity SEHP says highlights both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to bring much-needed homes back into use.
In 2023, Argyll and Bute became the first Scottish council to formally declare a housing emergency; SEHP argued it is therefore imperative that the best possible use is made of existing stock in tackling the area’s acute housing pressures.
Scottish Empty Homes Partnership National Manager, Tahmina Nizam, said: “Argyll & Bute’s dedicated empty homes officers are working hard to bring empty homes back into use and these figures are a reminder of just how important that work is.
“No home was built to sit empty, and we simply can’t afford to let these vital assets go to waste. Bringing empty properties back into use is a cost-effective way to ease housing pressures; in many cases it will be the simplest, quickest way to expand local affordable and social housing stock.”
She added: “Since the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership was formed in 2010, nearly 13,000 homes have been brought back into use across the country. Everyone involved, from local and national government and across the housing sector, should be proud of that.
“However, these figures published are a clear reminder that there’s more work to be done when it comes to unleashing the potential of our empty homes. Every single empty property in Argyll & Bute could transform a family or individual’s life, but collectively they could make an enormous contribution to ending Aberdeen’s housing emergency.”