£1m fund to bring empty Highland homes back to use
Original Article Summary
Grants would be given to the owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use.
PropMatch Curated Analysis
Highland Council is proposing a £1m fund offering grants of up to £30,000 to owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use, conditional on renting at mid-market affordable rates or owner-occupation for at least five years. This targets the 2,466 vacant properties in the region — the highest count of any Scottish local authority.
Investor Relevance
Investors owning or considering acquiring vacant Highland properties should assess whether grant eligibility could offset refurbishment costs, while noting the 5-year affordable rent covenant as a yield constraint and exit consideration. The scheme signals active council intervention in the local housing supply, which may also affect competitive acquisition dynamics for distressed or empty stock.
Original Source:
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