Empty Homes
According to the National Records of Scotland, Orkney has the third highest level of vacant dwellings within Scotland with an estimated 6.3% of the housing stock lying empty.
Properties can become empty for many reasons. Owners may be struggling to finance renovations, legal issues might be halting people from using the property, or the owners may be facing difficulties with selling or renting their property.
Whatever the reason for a property becoming empty, an empty home presents costs to both its owner and the community around it. The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership suggests that an empty property can cost its owner between £8,000 and £10,000 a year based on the cost of council tax, insurance, repairs, and loss of rent. Impacts on the local community can include a lowering of adjacent house prices, an increase in anti-social behaviour, and the closing of local amenities due to a shrinking population.
Although it is the responsibility of homeowners to maintain their property and keep it in good order, it is Orkney Islands Council’s intention to provide owners of empty homes support in bringing their properties back into use. OIC’s Development and Empty Homes Officer can provide information and advice to help with this.
Options for bringing empty properties back into use
Renovations
If you are interested in renovating your empty property, the Development and Empty Homes Officer can offer a range of advice and support.
The Development and Empty Homes Officer can assist with securing access to VAT and trade discounts. You may also be able to gain a reduction in Council Tax whilst renovating your property.
Renting or selling
If you do not want to live in the property yourself, renting or selling on are two options that the Development and Empty Homes Officer can advise on.
Those wishing to sell can also apply to join Orkney Islands Council’s free Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme.
Buy or sell with the Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme
Orkney Islands Council runs a free Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme designed to bring together people wanting to buy with those seeking to sell empty properties.
Selling a Home
Many owners of empty homes do not have the time or finances to return their property to use. In this case, sometimes the best option can be to sell the property to someone who is able to do so. Whether your property is ‘ready to move in’ or requires renovation, you are welcome to join the Matchmaker Scheme.
The benefit of the scheme is that the details of your property will be sent directly to people interested in buying properties in your area which meet their criteria.
Buying a Home
If you are looking to buy a currently empty property then the Matchmaker Scheme can help you to find the right one for you. We keep your specific criteria for potential houses on record and when a property that matches your specifications joins the Matchmaker Scheme we will email you the property details, as well as the contact details of the owner/agent of the home.
How to get involved
Complete either the Buyer Registration Form or the Owner Registration Form, which are available via the 'Related Downloads' section of this webpage, and send to the Development and Empty Homes Officer by email to rachael.batty@orkney.gov.uk or post to: Rachael Batty, Housing Department, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY.
Once this has been received your details will be added to the database. When a match has been made the prospective buyer will be sent the details of the property and contact information for it, and the owner will be informed that their details have been passed on as a match.
Please note that the Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme is not an estate agency and all negotiations and sales processes take place between the seller and buyer. We recommend that anyone who is seeking to sell their property obtains independent professional valuation and legal advice (from a solicitor or estate agent).
Reporting an empty property
If you are concerned about an empty property in your community, you can report these concerns to the Development and Empty Homes Officer.
Getting in touch
For information and advice, please contact the Development and Empty Homes Officer, Rachael Batty, either by email at rachael.batty@orkney.gov.uk or phone 01856 873535 extension 2198.
Relevant documents are available in PDF format from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
