Housing Regeneration Fund – empty homes

£300,000 from the 2026 to 2027 Housing Regeneration Fund has been allocated to provide grant assistance for owners of empty homes. 

A 50% grant rate will be made available to eligible properties with maximum award of £20,000 based on works costing £40,000. The grant will be subject to the standard grant conditions set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

This scheme is open to private landlords and private owners who intend to occupy the property subject to the following conditions:

Private owners

• once works are completed, the property must either: 
  - be made available for letting at or below the local housing allowance rate for a minimum of 5 years following completion of the works, or 
  - be occupied by the owner or their family for a minimum of 5 years
• for the period of 5 years, following the payment of an empty property grant, the owner must prove to us on an annual basis the property is still being made available for private let at the Local Housing Allowance Rate or being occupied by the owner or family
• properties can be residential or unused commercial space above shops that have previously been used as residential accommodation
• properties need to have been registered on our council tax records as empty for at least 1 year
• 50% of the grant award will be withheld until the landlord provides documentary evidence the property is occupied

Private landlords

• properties need to have been registered on our council tax records as empty for at least 1 year
• private landlords who have been operating for three years or more and have a vacant property requiring upgrades may apply without the requirement for the property to have been empty for at least 1 year
• once works are completed, the property must either: 
  - be made available for letting at or below the local housing allowance rate for a minimum of 5 years following completion of the works, or 
  - be occupied by the owner or their family 
• for a minimum of 5 years for the period of 5 years, following the payment of an empty property grant, the owner must prove to us on an annual basis the property is still being made available for private let at the local housing allowance rate or being occupied by the owner or family
• 50% of the grant award will be withheld until the landlord provides documentary evidence the property is occupied

Permissions

In many cases, you will also need to apply for permission to carry out works to the building:

• check if you need planning permission
• check if the work needs a building warrant

Other Housing Regeneration Funds

Housing Regeneration Fund – town centre sites

Housing Regeneration Fund – below tolerable standards grants