As a Mum of school-age children, I worry about their prospects of finding a secure, affordable home when they move out. Whether it’s families priced out of their communities, young people forced to move away, or empty homes blighting our towns and villages, it’s clear that Scotland’s housing system is broken. The Scottish Greens are determined to fix it.
Tackling Empty Homes and Derelict Properties
One of the most glaring injustices in our region is the sheer number of empty homes. Over 31,000 properties across Scotland have been empty for more than a year – almost 5,000 of those are in South Scotland.
The Scottish Greens have led the charge for stronger powers to bring these homes back into use, tabling amendments to the Housing Bill that would allow councils to issue compulsory sales orders on long-term empty properties. These reforms are backed by homelessness charities and the Scottish Land Commission, and would help regenerate communities and provide desperately needed homes.
We’ve already secured changes that allow councils to double council tax on second and empty homes, a move that has reduced the number of second homes by 10% in just one year. But we know we must go further. Homes are for living in, not hoarding.
Reforming Compulsory Purchase, Sale, and Lease Orders
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on modernising compulsory purchase law, a process the Greens have long championed. The aim is to make it easier for councils and public bodies to buy neglected or derelict properties and return them to use. Importantly, the consultation also explores new powers for compulsory sale and lease orders, which would allow authorities to force the sale or rental of properties left empty for too long. These are vital tools for tackling the housing emergency in South Scotland, where absentee landlords and speculative investors have left too many homes to rot.
Fairer Taxes for a Fairer System
The Greens have also been at the forefront of efforts to reform Scotland’s outdated council tax system. Right now, council tax is based on property values from 1991, meaning many people in modest homes pay more than their fair share, while the wealthiest get off lightly. We’ve proposed the first revaluation in over 30 years, alongside measures to protect those on low incomes. Our principle is simple: those with the broadest shoulders should contribute more to fund the local services we all rely on.
We’ve also called for reforms to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), including closing loopholes that let the super-rich and even the King avoid paying their fair share. We believe property taxes should be progressive, ensuring that wealth generated from land and housing is reinvested in our communities, not siphoned off by a privileged few.
Building a Greener, Fairer Future
The Scottish Greens have already delivered real change: securing a winter eviction ban during the pandemic, winning a tenant hardship fund, and pushing for a national system of rent controls. We’re committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with a focus on social rent and rural communities. And we’re fighting for a just transition, ensuring that all homes are warm, energy efficient, and affordable to heat.
But we can’t do it alone. We need a parliament that’s willing to stand up to vested interests and put people before profit. That’s why I’m asking for your support -- to keep up the pressure for bold, Green solutions to Scotland’s housing crisis.
If you believe that everyone deserves a safe, secure, and affordable home, join us. Together, we can build a South Scotland where communities thrive, not just survive.
You can follow my campaign on social media or contact me directly through this blog. I'd love to hear from you.
Laura Moodie
Scottish Green Party Candidate for South of Scotland
