Glasgow council pursued 52 homes for compulsory purchases since 2019

The Greater Pollok and Southside Central wards have been the main focus of a council programme to bring empty homes back into use.

Figures reveal that compulsory purchase orders (CPO) have been promoted 14 times in Greater Pollok and on 12 occasions in Southside Central over the last three years.

In total, there have been 52 promoted orders, with eight in Hillhead, seven in the Govan ward and six in the North East ward.

Once the council has bought a property, it enters an agreement with a local housing association which carries out repairs and takes over the maintenance of the home.

It is hoped the strategy will tackle the problem of long-term vacant properties, increasing affordable housing supply and ensuring the upkeep of pre-1919 tenements.

As part of the CPO process, owners are given the opportunity to sell voluntarily to housing associations. In 13 of the 52 promoted CPOs, a housing association has been able to buy the property on a voluntary basis, removing the need to proceed with the order.

There have been two properties which have either been sold or occupied by family members and the planned CPOs have not continued. The remaining 37 CPOs have been progressed or confirmed.

Earlier this month, councillors agreed that officers could promote CPOs for two properties on the southside of the city. The homes at Flat G/02, 26 Clifford Street and 2/1 72 Westmoreland Street would be taken over by Govan and Govanhill housing associations respectively.

The Clifford Street home, Cessnock, has been empty for 14 years and needs significant repairs while the Westmoreland Street flat, Govanhill, is owned by a private landlord who was served a closing order in 2016 as the property failed to “meet a tolerable standard”.

Bailie James Scanlon, Labour, who represents Southside Central, asked how many properties had been bought by the council in Govanhill.

A response, which has now been published by the council, shows 12 CPOs were promoted, with eight being progressed and four flats sold voluntarily to Govanhill Housing Association.

Bailie Scanlon said: “It must be terrible for the good tenants, the good owners, who have got to suffer this insufferable time when these characters are just not looking after premises they own.”

A council officer replied: “Absolutely, and if the council was awash with money we’d probably promote more and more CPOs.

“We will continue to push forward with CPOs where there is strategic importance attached to it and Govanhill is still a key area for us, like Ibrox and Cessnock.”

He added CPOs are a “last resort” but the council will “take action” if landlords refuse to address problems.

Glasgow City Council approved an empty homes strategy in December 2019, when there were 2,697 homes listed as being empty for six months or more.

Officers can use council tax records to identify vacant properties and they can charge a 100% council tax surcharge to owners whose properties aren’t being marketed for rent and sale and have been empty for over 12 months.

Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, said: “I think that the more liberal use of compulsory purchase order powers the council has been taking of late has been really welcome.

“There’s a continued issue with either derelict houses that have been left vacant or landlord-owned and let out but aren’t kept up to a high enough standard.

“To see this sort of action taken, where we bring them back into public ownership, or pass on to registered social landlords, I think is great and the more we can do this the better for our communities.”

The breakdown of CPOs by council ward:

Greater Pollok – 14

Cardonald – 1

Govan – 7

Pollokshields – 1

Langside – 1

Southside Central – 12

Hillhead – 8

Victoria Park – 1

Baillieston – 1

North East – 6