West Lothian Council will buy back more homes to offer tenants

West Lothian Council has expanded its buy back scheme which brings former council houses back onto local authority books.

The policy -known as Open Market Acquisition - was last reviewed in 2016, as a means to increase purchases and West Lothian Council’s lettable stock.

The current policy has been successful with 191 properties purchased between 2016/17 and 2019/20 and at least a further 16 properties are due to conclude in 2020/21.

At present when considering which properties are eligible, consideration is given to what repairs or improvements are required to bring the property up to lettable standard and in line with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

The current policy sets a cost limit of £8500 which can in some cases restrict the properties available for the council to offer on.

One of the proposed changes will see a value for money assessment carried out, considering the combined cost of purchase and improvements/repairs. The council would seek to secure the best value price that does not exceed the Home Report valuation plus a repairs allowance of £8500.

In doing so, the council may be able to purchase with a lower offer on properties which have been on the market for an extensive period of time, or properties which may need greater capital investment. This will also assist with the regeneration of the area where a property is in a poorer condition and will be improved.
Another change on the size of properties that the council is able to make offers on.

Previously, essential criteria set out that only one or two bedroom properties will be considered unless there is a strategic reason for purchasing a larger property.

The revised policy will see that properties of all sizes can be purchased to meet an increase in demand for all house types, in particular larger houses with three, four and five bedrooms where appropriate and to reduce the pressure on the homelessness service.

The report identified that the existing £9.255 million capital budget for Open Market Acquisitions will be used to purchase former local authority houses and that Scottish Government grant funding of at least £30,000 per unit is available for buying back former Council houses in West Lothian until 2022.

Council Executive noted the revised policy and approved the changes.

Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul, said: “Officers have completed a review of the current policy proposed changes should increase opportunities for the council to purchase more open market houses and flats and further increase capacity for social housing in West Lothian.

“The revised scheme is likely to provide benefit to the council in terms of creating additional stock, easing the pressure on temporary accommodation for homeless applicants and families, helping the council to become the majority owner within blocks of flats, helping to regenerate areas and reduce the number of empty homes within West Lothian.”