The council employs an empty homes officer to provide advice and assistance to owners of empty private homes that have been unoccupied for more than six months.

Acting on information provided by residents and through council records, the officer explores all opportunities to make the homes available for use again.

As well as benefiting the individual whose home has become empty, or their families who gain responsibility for the property, there are additional benefits for the community and the wider local authority area.

Firstly, making sure more homes are available alleviates the demand for social housing; homes don’t fall into a poor state of repair; and the risks associated with empty homes, such as vermin, vandalism or becoming a fire risk, are removed, creating more sustainable communities.

In the last year, 29 properties were brought back into use through the empty homes officer in 2024/25 and 29 in the previous year.

Work will now continue on identifying homes which have lain empty for a prolonged period. Residents can also get in touch directly with the council to report homes which are not occupied.

Convener of housing and communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, said: “This is an important part of the work that the council undertakes, improving communities and bringing much-needed homes back into use. It is a difficult but worthwhile process.

“I commend the work undertaken by the Empty Homes Officer and look forward to seeing this programme progressing over the coming years.”

Vice convener of housing and communities, Councillor Hazel Sorrell, added: “Given that there is a shortage of homes in the area and the council’s ambitious housebuilding programme, this is a welcome bonus to increase the number of available properties in West Dunbartonshire.

“I would urge residents who are concerned about a long-term empty property in their community to contact the council in the first instance to see what can be done.”