Council urges landlords to help amid housing emergency in Scotland
4 months ago | 10 comments
Council buys homes to prevent evictions
7:59 AM, 3rd June 2026, 3 weeks ago
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A council has approved plans to buy 26 homes from a private landlord to prevent tenants from being made homeless.
Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee decision will see the acquisition being funded by the council and the Scottish Government.
The homes then transferred into the council’s social housing stock.
Commitment to help
The council’s housing spokesperson, Cllr Judy Hamilton, said: “I attended the very first meeting of the Wemyss tenants, following their eviction notices.
“At that stage, we did not know all the details; however, I gave the commitment, that we would protect the tenants.
“My priority is to protect people and prevent them from becoming homeless.”
She added: “This proposal allows us to step in at the right time, keep families in their homes and provide them with long-term stability.”
Evictions under way
The properties are owned by Torah Capital Limited, and its subsidiary TC CAPS3 Limited, with the homes spread across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath.
Eviction proceedings are already under way for some residents.
Council officers will now continue talks with the landlord to complete the legal formalities and take ownership of the properties.
The council says the purchase will allow tenants to remain where they live, avoid emergency housing costs and keep established communities together.
Once the deal is completed, the homes will be upgraded over time to meet housing standards.
Fife buys new homes
Meanwhile, Fife Council is also set to expand housing provision in Coaltown of Wemyss through the proposed purchase of 14 new-build homes.
The houses will include a mix of two and three-bedroom properties for families in the Levenmouth area.
That acquisition from Persimmon Homes has also been supported by Scottish Government funding.
The development forms part of the council’s wider response to the housing emergency and its Affordable Housing Programme.
Once complete, the 14 homes are expected to help up to 30 households through a transfer-led allocations approach, freeing up existing properties for others in need.
Tags:
affordable housing Scotland, Fife Council housing, Homelessness prevention, scottish landlords, social housing Fife, tenant eviction Scotland, Torah Capital properties
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2 years ago | 13 comments
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1506 - Articles: 1
11:32 AM, 3rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I sold one of my rental properties back to the Council and they wanted the tenants out before completion.
I, unlike Rayner, hadn’t bought it under Right to Buy but from the lender of someone had done did and had defaulted on their mortgage.
Many Councils have a Buy Back Scheme for ex LA property – virtually at market rent, no estate agent fees, quick completition as don’t need LA searches etc, don’t care the condition of kitchens/bathrooms as will replace anyway and even the double glazing will be replaced.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 138
8:00 PM, 3rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
All the English councils have to do is offer to buy all 21,000,000 PRS houses and then they can stop whining about how private landlords are not as good as social landlords.
They can buy mine if they want but I don’t accept IOU’s…
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3637 - Articles: 5
9:20 AM, 4th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
buy more….then have no funds to actually maintain them….
Member Since November 2013 - Comments: 4
10:18 AM, 4th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 04/06/2026 – 09:20
…too right, eventually even knocking down and building new. Social housing is let out at below market rent, probably even below true cost of provision, and neglected ‘cos the money just ain’t there.
When you offer something for less than it’s worth, you create demand which otherwise wouldn’t exist. The RRA and resultant purge of the PRS is manner from heaven for the lefties…..sit back and wait for the calls for more Government housing….
Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 23
4:13 PM, 4th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
“Once the deal is completed, the homes will be upgraded over time to meet housing standards.”
The council is planning on renting out properties that don’t meet housing standards? How is that allowed?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3637 - Articles: 5
5:10 PM, 4th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by The H at 04/06/2026 – 16:13
perhaps a ply…not necessarily to be let to those needed existing (housing list) social provision…but for perhaps more lucrative sub letting to the likes of Serco et al for all those asylum seekers that are being pushed out of hotels…? a hands off, money in opportunity ? Cheaper than trying to find places for them within the PRS…
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 589
1:18 AM, 5th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
My council has bought about 5 of mine over the years . They insisted on me evicting the families first though and making them homeless just so they could house another homeless family. They choose as a callous policy to uproot a vulnerable family with 3 children and put them in a hotel 10 miles away from all their support structures . Its a tick box numbers game for them totally devoid of any humanity
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 19
10:00 AM, 6th June 2026, About 2 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 04/06/2026 – 09:20
They’ll always have more funds to maintain (new kitchen, bathroom, windows whether needed or not) because you and I will pay more tax.