Second homes cash to help with housing crisis

CASH generated from Council Tax on second and empty homes is set to be reinvested into easing Dumfries and Galloway’s housing crisis.

The total number of properties in the region has dropped by more than 1000 in the past five years – and the number of landlords has also decreased, writes Marc McLean.

These are key factors in the severe shortage of homes, leading to the growing homelessness problem with hundreds staying in temporary accommodation every year.

But the council is now proposing diverting £900,000 from council tax on second homes to establish a ‘Dumfries and Galloway Housing Regeneration Fund’.

In previous years, this income went on developing housing around town centres, but the wider housing emergency is prompting a change in direction.

Officials have revealed there has been a reduction across the region of properties available for private rent.

Total properties have declined from 10,776 on 31 March 2021, to 9686 on 9 February 2026. During the same period, the total number of landlords has decreased from 6728 to 5862.

A survey of local landlords who had recently left the sector received 122 responses, with almost half rating finding reliable tenants as the most challenging aspect.

Almost 40 percent cited regulatory challenges as their primary reason for taking homes off the private rental market.

If approved next week, the council will allocate £300,000 to provide grants for owners of empty homes to bring properties back into use as affordable housing, subject to detailed criteria.

Another £300,000 will be for grants to tackle below tolerable standard properties locally; and the remaining £300,000 will be to support housing developments that will contribute to the regeneration of town centres.