FAMILIES living in two Fife villages will no longer lose their homes after the council agreed to buy the properties.
We previously reported on how around 35 households in West Wemyss and Denbeath were told that they must leave their homes by private landlords Torah Capital, who bought the houses from Wemyss Properties in September last year.
At the time, the company promised tenants that their leases were secure but then announced plans to sell the properties and issued mass eviction notices.
But now, the new purchase by Fife Council and the Scottish Government, will allow tenants to remain in their homes.
The properties will instead become part of the council’s social housing stock.
The Scottish Government is providing £2m, with the remainder coming from the council.
The council said the move will provide long-term housing security for residents, prevent homelessness and help maintain established communities.
Following a meeting of Fife Council's cabinet committee on Thursday, housing spokesperson councillor Judy Hamilton said: "My priority is to protect people and prevent them from becoming homeless.
"I am pleased that officers have worked through all the challenges and this proposal allows us to step in at the right time, keep families in their homes and provide them with long-term stability.
"It also strengthens our housing stock and ensures we're making the best use of available resources to support our communities."
Council leader David Ross said: "This has been a very difficult situation all round but especially for the tenants involved who have faced great uncertainty and the prospect of losing their homes.
"I am pleased that it has been agreed today that the council should step in to buy these properties and that we have been able to fulfil our promise to protect the tenants."
Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "I am pleased that the Scottish government has been able to ensure tenants do not lose their homes, despite the fact this will have been a very distressing time for them.
"It was pivotal that we acted swiftly and decisively to ensure that tenants remain protected and secure with a roof over their head and a place they can quite rightly continue to call their home, as they have done for years.
"By stepping in, that is precisely what we have achieved."
