The convener rightly raised the issue of a cost benefit analysis, which is a crucial element in determining the success or usefulness of empty homes officers in tackling the problem.
Earlier, I alluded to the issue of data, which is crucial. In your submission, in response to question 8 in the committee’s consultation, you rightly make the point that the National Records of Scotland gives a figure of 79,000 empty properties, but because that
“includes ‘new homes which are yet to be occupied, and dwellings which are empty and awaiting demolition’”,
it overstates the scale of the problem in Scotland. You go on to say:
“In contrast, the main statistics published by the Scottish Government, which report approximately 39,000 properties as long term empty, may do the opposite.”
You point out that the Government’s figure excludes properties that are exempt from council tax.
I note that the Scottish empty homes partnership intends to carry out a national empty homes survey later this year. Will you give us a bit more information about when you intend to do that and how you will go about it? It seems to me that the key element in allowing us all to move forward on the issue is to establish the facts: how many empty homes there are and why they are empty. That will enable us to start to consider solutions for each category. It would be interesting to hear about how you intend to go about that crucial piece of work.
10:45