Angus Council has achieved an affordable housing landmark with the transformation of a dilapidated building.
The authority has become the first council in Scotland to transform an empty property into an affordable home under the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Loan Fund.
The disused former commercial property in Montrose was empty for over five years before its conversion to a one-bedroom home.
It will now be let at an affordable rent for five years, meaning that those on low incomes, including housing benefit recipients, can take up residence safe in the knowledge that their rent will not significantly increase during this time.
Housing minister Margaret Burgess praised the council for leading the way.
“It is fantastic to see the first of many properties to be renovated through the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Loan Fund,” she said.
“Bringing empty properties back into use is a cost-effective way to increase supply of much needed affordable housing to families across Scotland.
“The Empty Homes Loan Fund and the wider work being taken forward by councils will significantly reduce the number of wasted, empty properties across Scotland.”
Council housing spokesperson Donald Morrison said: “This is great news for Angus residents.
“Not only will it help us increase the number of affordable homes for rent, it also contributes to the sustainability of our communities by making our streets more vibrant and attractive.
“We want to make best use of all our assets and we are working with the private sector to assess the suitability and cost-effectiveness of each proposed site.
“This is a great example of the council working successfully in partnership with the private sector and the Government to achieve that objective.”
Kristen Hubert, coordinator at the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is funded by the Scottish Government and based at Shelter Scotland, said: “This is great news and a credit to the work Angus Council staff engaged in with owners of empty properties in the lead-up to receiving the loan fund money.
“Angus Council should be congratulated for being the first council to successfully bring a property back into use as part of the Empty Homes Loan Fund.
“Bringing this five-year empty property back into use as affordable housing shows that councils really can unlock ‘stuck’ empty properties with the right incentives.”
Angus Council received £120,000 from the Scottish Government to provide interest-free loans for cash-strapped private owners to have renovation work carried out so that their empty properties can be brought into productive use.
The Montrose home is the first of seven privately-owned empty properties being refurbished in the district for use as affordable housing.
The investment aims to tackle the issue of properties sitting empty and unused across Scotland because owners find it difficult to fund the necessary repairs.
Under the scheme, owners must subsequently let the home for a period of at least five years at an affordable rent. A percentage of the rent will be paid back to the fund to pay off the loan.