Figures published yesterday by the Scottish Government show a total of 44,453 privately owned homes have sat empty for more than six months, an increase of 915 compared to the previous year. Of those, 32,337 have been vacant for more than twelve months, the highest number on record.

The latest council tax data (in September 2025) shows there were 20,927 second homes and 44,989 properties with unoccupied exemptions from Council Tax, which have generally been empty and unfurnished for less than six months.

Compared with the previous year:

• there was a decrease of 3% (-679) in second homes
• an increase of 2% (915) in empty homes, which are liable for Council Tax
• an increase of 2% (741) in long-term empty homes (empty for over 12 months), which are liable for Council Tax
• a decrease of 6% (-2,790) in properties with unoccupied exemptions from Council Tax.

With 2,066 homes having been brought back into use in 2024/25, SEHP commended the hard work of dedicated empty homes officers working in local authorities across Scotland, but said the new figures are a reminder of just how much of the country’s existing housing stock is going to waste.

In 2024/25, more than 34,000 households in Scotland were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. SEHP argued it is therefore imperative that the best possible use is made of existing stock in tackling Scotland’s housing emergency.

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership national manager, Tahmina Nizam, said: “In councils across the country, dedicated empty homes officers are working hard to bring empty homes back into use. The figures published today are a reminder of just how important that work is.

“No home was built to sit empty, and we simply can’t afford to let these vital assets go to waste. Bringing empty properties back into use is a cost-effective way to ease housing pressures; in many cases it will be the simplest, quickest, way to expand local affordable and social housing stock.

“Since the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership was formed in 2010 nearly 13,000 homes have been brough back into use. Everyone involved, from local and national government, and across the housing sector should be proud of that. Our recently launched Matchmaker Scheme, which assists owners of empty properties in finding interested buyers, will help make sure even more homes are brought back into use in the coming year.

“However, the figures published today are a clear reminder that there’s more work to be done when it comes to unleashing the potential of Scotland’s empty homes. Every single empty property could transform a family or individuals’ life, but collectively they could make an enormous contribution to ending Scotland’s housing emergency.”