More than 30 council homes in Bathgate have been empty for more than a month, new figures have revealed, as councillors called for regular updates from repairs teams on the turnover of empty homes.
Most of the empty homes are in need of major refurbishment before they can be let to new tenants
The problem, which is being seen in areas across West Lothian, adds to the frustrations of those on the 10,000 plus waiting list - and housing officers.
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Speaking at the recent Bathgate Local Area Committee, Willie Boyle for the SNP asked the ward housing manager Graeme McKee if they could hear from the teams on Building services.
The request comes only a few months after building Service first sent staff to the committee to explain delays.
Mr Boyle looked over the latest ward housing report and said: “We had 34 policy voids in the last quarter running empty for more than a month. I'd like to request to have someone from Building services come along and let us know what the issues are and why it takes so long?
“We need to hear directly.”
Mr McKee responded that officers had attended the last meeting and asked: “Would you like this to be an ongoing thing.”
Councillor Boyle said: “I think we need to because we are all aware of demand for housing. It's difficult as a local member to justify so many houses sitting open . There’s various reasons for it but I can't justify everything.”
Tables in the housing report showed two homes empty in the 4 to 12 week period for upgrades.
In the 13 to 16 week period there are 18 properties empty - 17 for upgrades and one for use as a decant property
There are 14 homes which have been empty for six months or more. Two are being used as housing warden offices and two are held for decants but 10 need upgrades.
In his quarterly report Mr McKee said: “Delays in re-letting can occur for a variety of reasons - the type or location of the property, the completion of void work or the identification of additional works not visible during the initial inspection. Ensuring that vulnerable persons are appropriately supported through the viewing and sign up process can also add to time frames.
“Some of our applicants have specific support requirements which require detailed planning and co-ordination by both social work and housing services prior to tenancy commencement. There were 34 policy voids in the ward for this period, 4 more than the last reporting period.”
Mr McKee explained that tenants giving notice had homes inspected and were expected to give 28 days notice and make good any repairs identified in inspection by housing officers.
Often they do not. Mr McKee said: “More often than not tenants are not giving us the notice. They are just abandoning and we don’t get in to see the property until we are changing the locks .”
Surveys of delays have revealed a higher than average number of emptied council homes which need major refurbishment.
At the March meeting of the committee Graham Ross, the recently appointed repairs manager for the ward, told councillors: “The number of category C houses, which need a lot more work, is a lot higher.”
There are also issues with having enough staff to carry out the work as the council is struggling to recruit tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians
Other issues identified include delays in utility companies dealing with the debts of previous tenants. This is a problem so acute across the county that the Chief Executive has written to the chief executives of national utility companies to express dissatisfaction with what was happening with void properties, and there are other national projects under way too as the same issues face other local authorities.
