NEW figures showing that more than 1000 military homes in Scotland are lying empty have sparked a renewed call for the Ministry of Defence to house homeless veterans.
The SNP have again demanded action from the MoD over the unoccupied army houses after discovering the number has rocketed by 57% since 2013.
There are now 1087 homes lying empty – almost double the 690 empty houses five years ago.
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said many could be used by homeless veterans.
“Veterans deserve to be supported by the UK Government and it’s tragic that some veterans find themselves homeless,” he said.
“The MoD has a duty of care to veterans and should do everything they can to help those who struggle.”
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The figures uncovered by a freedom of information request show that over 1000 properties have sat empty since 2017, despite the fact that 993 veterans declared themselves homeless to local authorities in the past year, an increase of 75 from 2018.
MacDonald pointed out that the Scottish Government was already taking action to reduce the number of privately owned empty homes across Scotland.
“Yet for three years, more than 1000 MoD-owned homes have sat empty – many of which are perfectly suitable for use,” he said.
“It’s not right that those homes lie empty and it is in their gift to put them to good use and support ending homelessness.”
The SNP said some of the homes needed repaired but it was not clear how many were habitable.
The MoD claims that properties need to be left vacant to accommodate the needs of personnel who are posted to different locations.
“Military personnel move around the country regularly and a certain number of homes need to be kept in reverse to accommodate them,” said a spokesperson.
“While the vast majority of former service personnel transition successfully into civilian life, no-one, including veterans, should spend their lives on the streets.
“The MoD allows veterans who have recently left service to remain in service family accommodation for up to 12 months in order to allow them and their families to adjust to civilian life.”
The MoD figures follow the news that the number of second homes and properties left empty in Scotland over the long term has risen for the third year in a row and is now standing at a total of 65,277 empty homes.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has said he will press ahead with plans to bring in compulsory sale orders by the end of this parliament in 2021. These allow councils to force owners to sell empty homes, abandoned shops, derelict hotels at auction and differ from compulsory purchase orders where the local authority has to fork out the money to buy the property. Gap sites could be included in the plans.
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In the meantime, charities and local authorities are working together to bring empty homes back into use.
“Last year, the combined effort of empty homes officers in 20 local councils in Scotland and our own Empty Homes Advice Service brought back 1128 homes,” said Shaheena Din, national manager of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is run by Shelter Scotland.
“The latest figures for the current year show that another record-breaking year is in sight.”
In addition, a total of 21,403 new homes were completed in 2019, a rise of 18% or 3210 more homes than in 2018.
The increase was in both the private sector and housing association homes.
Work to build 23,700 new homes was also started in the year to June 2019, up 22% on 2018 figures, while nearly 11,000 affordable homes were started in the period to September 2019.
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