Recruitment underway for post designed to bring empty homes back into use
AROUND two years after it was first mooted, Shetland Islands Council is now recruiting to a new post designed to help bring long-term empty homes back into use.
The post is not called an empty homes officer but is instead named private sector housing officer.
The prospect of this officer was raised at a meeting in 2024 when changes to council tax were approved, including an increased levy on long-term empty and second homes.
Frustration simmered among councillors over the pace of progress, with members advised in January this year that work was ongoing, with the prospect of national funding being involved.
But the new post is now open for recruitment, with an annual salary of around £36,500.
Explaining the new role, a spokesperson for the council said: “The successful postholder will support property owners, and work with council services and local partners, to bring long-term empty properties back into use.
“With considerable pressure on the housing market in Shetland, this role will contribute to the local housing strategy by helping to increase the availability of private housing stock.”
The job advert said the successful candidate will “manage a varied and complex caseload, providing advice, investigation, negotiation, intervention, enforcement, and decision-making in relation to empty private sector homes”.
One councillor who has called for the empty homes officer post to be progressed in the last couple of years is John Fraser.
Welcoming the recruitment process getting underway, the Lerwick South member said the post is an “essential component in the council’s housing strategy”.
“Housing shortages are creating challenges for our community,” Fraser added.
“As house prices rise, some of our working-age residents are struggling to afford to live here. Our most vulnerable residents also find it difficult to find suitable homes.
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“Bringing an empty property back into beneficial use can not only resolve these problems but also provides a new home. Little by little this helps meet our high demand for housing, reduces pressure on new build development and provides a future income and asset for the owner.
“Reducing the number of empty homes just makes sense for Shetland.”
Figures presented earlier this year said there were 404 long-term empty properties in Shetland in 2025/26.
This was said to be a decrease from 437 in 2024/25, leading to suggestions the increased council tax on long-term empty homes was having a positive effect.
There have been concerns from some councillors that there are “unintended consequences” from the policy on taxing long-term empty and second homes, however.
This includes suggestions that people renovating “inhabitable” homes are being “penalised” with higher council tax, and that it is unfair on folk inheriting properties.
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