Scottish councils to be given power to sell homes

Councils across Scotland could be given the power to sell vacant properties in a bid to help out the country's economy.

The Scottish government estimates that there are 25,000 vacated houses north of the border and wants to give the local authorities the right to sell off these properties to rejuvenate struggling towns.

In a deal with Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership the government will develop the proposals. It is believed that these plans will work better than when talks broke down with owners.

Keith Brown, housing minister, said: "Empty homes are a scar on our landscape that can have a negative impact on the quality of Scotland's cities, towns and villages. Many councils have indicated to us and to Shelter that more enforcement powers are needed to tackle certain empty homes."

Elsewhere, councils across Scotland are heeding the advice of communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles in freezing the council tax in cities across the nation.