The proposals, announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf on Monday, could give councils powers to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024, bringing them into line with long-term empty homes from next year.
The joint consultation with COSLA also seeks views on further powers to charge more than double rate on both empty and second homes in future years.
It also asks for views on changes to the definition of when a property offering self-catered accommodation becomes liable for non-domestic rates.
The First Minister said: “I encourage anyone who is interested to respond to the consultation, as we try to prioritise homes for living in, seeking a fair contribution to local services from everyone, and recognising the benefits to local economies from self-catering accommodation and second homes."
In January 2023 there were 42,865 long-term empty houses in Scotland.
The new Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees Emma Roddick, speaking to The Oban Times as a Highlands and Islands SNP MSP, told us: "Depopulation is such a challenging issue. There is no silver bullet. When I speak to young people along the West Coast, there are so many different reasons for leaving: it's employment, it's housing, it's connectivity, whether that's transport or internet.
"Housing is my top issue. If there were more readily available affordable housing in these places for young people to live in, that has not just been bought up by absentee landlords well above the asking price as soon as it goes on market, we'd be looking at quite a few more young people staying where they grew up. We also need to make sure there is good skilled work with career progression as well.
"I have heard, particularly in Oban, that people have cancelled coming here to study marine sciences. Health and social care workers have not been able to find a place to live, and yet when you look on AirBnB, there are a lot of properties available in Oban to stay in, and there are a lot of second homes as well. So we need action on all fronts.
"You can't keep allowing people to buy up multiple properties and not do very much with them, and not contribute back to the local authority.
"Building houses is excellent, and we need to keep doing that, especially in rural areas. At the moment building materials are very expensive. Contractor costs are also a lot higher than many housing associations have previously budgeted for, so it is a challenge.
"But the extra money that housing associations and council are getting to build more homes, and hopefully the land reform legislation that is coming in the next year, will make it a lot easier to find land that's suitable for homes, to then build them, and get them ready for people to move into."
Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto MSP welcomed the plans to allow councils to double the council tax paid on empty and second homes, in a "radical" move to address the challenges around housing in Scotland.
There are currently 4,214 empty and second homes in Argyll & Bute, Ms Minto said, while an increasing number of people are left in temporary accommodation and on longer housing waiting lists. Scotland has 42,865 long term empty homes and a further 24,287 second homes.
Ms Minto said: “I welcome these game-changing new proposals from the Scottish Government, which will undoubtedly help to free up unused homes and take much-needed steps in addressing the housing shortage in Argyll & Bute.
“In his debut as First Minister, Humza Yousaf has proved that the SNP is the party of action – not just words. Thanks to Tory mismanagement and spiralling inflation, people are being priced out of buying and renting in areas where they grew up- and it is clear the SNP is the only party willing to stand up for what matters to the people of Scotland.
“While the Tories are too busy covering up their grubby deals and their pro Brexit Labour allies U-turn on their own housing commitments, independence is now essential if we are to continue to deliver real change in Scotland.”
Scottish Empty Homes Partnership ssw it "as a positive step to help to address the housing emergency by freeing up more housing stock.
“It is to be welcomed that proposals are being brought forward that recognise how empty homes can be part of solutions, rather than simply being seen as problems, for communities.”
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