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Empty Perth properties resurrected as affordable homes

Councillor Dave Doogan, Martin Smith (Private Sector Access Manager) and Isobel Butt (Vacant Property Development Officer), High Street, Perth.
Councillor Dave Doogan, Martin Smith (Private Sector Access Manager) and Isobel Butt (Vacant Property Development Officer), High Street, Perth.

Dilapidated city centre properties which have stood empty for more than a decade are being revivedĀ as part of a major restoration project.

Three High Street flatsĀ have been brought back into use by Perth and Kinross Council as part of itsĀ Empty Homes Initiative.

The properties have been been empty for about 11 years and were in desperate need of structural work and internal refurbishment.

Funding for the work came from the council andĀ the Perth and Kinross Heritage Turst in the form of grants of around Ā£35,000.

In exchange for these grants, the flats must be made available for tenants at an affordable rent for at least five years.

The three two-bedroom properties have now been let toĀ residents who may otherwise have relied on housing associations.

Before
Before
EmptyHomePerthAfter
After

Convener of housing in Perth and KinrossĀ councillor Dave DooganĀ praisedĀ the latest restoration work.

He said: “This is another welcome delivery for the empty homes initiative here in Perth City and brings back into use what is actually a very attractive residential building.

“Thanks to this work, and previous similar empty homes successes, a furtherĀ threeĀ residential properties are now occupied in our city centre and tenants have access to additional secure social housing.”

He added: “I commend the efforts of officers in working with the landlord to breath new life into these properties and I look forward to even more city centre residential properties returning to occupancy in the near future.”

The council initiative aims to meet particular types of demand for housing, for example, from young, single people.

A local authority spokeswoman said: “Perth and Kinross Council has been recognised as a sector-leading in terms of its approach to bringing empty homes into use.”

Grants are available to all residential properties within the Perth and Kinross patch that are currently unoccupied.

These grants can be used to support the conversion of premises from commercial to residential use.

A House of Multiple Occupation development project created by the council is currently in the running for a Cosla Excellence award. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in October 2016.