Council buys homes to prevent evictions

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.