Council to buy houses

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North Lanarkshire Council has announced a new scheme to buy up to 100 homes per year on the open property market to boost its supply available for rent.

Officials believe the “ground-breaking scheme” will help to increase the number and type of homes which can be made available for tenants.

The council, which is Scotland’s largest local authority landlord, will consider buying houses which are up for sale if they meet demand for a particular type and size of property in certain areas, or could meet required household needs such as homes suitable for people with disabilities.

Properties will also be considered where the purchase would allow the council to take complete or majority ownership of a block of flats to facilitate communal repairs; and where “the combined cost of buying and bringing the property up to letting standards would represent value for money”.

Housing development manager Pamela Humphries said: “There is huge demand for affordable housing across North Lanarkshire and it’s vital we look at different ways of increasing the supply of homes to help meet this.

“By purchasing good quality homes on the open market – many of which will be ex-council properties – we can help meet people’s requirements; and it will also hopefully help us progress refurbishment works.”

The new initiat i v e is in addition to North Lanarkshire’s existing empty homes scheme, which buys long-term empty houses and flats to refurbish and rent out.