An deserted fisherman’s cottage on a distant Scottish island that had no operating water, electrical energy or home windows — and sheep dwelling in it. That was all ex-soldier and businessman Robert Tai may afford after a protracted and tough divorce left him near broke.
He had grow to be enchanted by the historic stone buildings that stand empty all throughout the windswept, wet Isle of Lewis again when he was visiting yearly along with his then-wife within the 2000s, so it appeared a pure place to hunt refuge after their marriage broke down.
Tai was intent on buying and renovating a dilapidated property he’d initially noticed in 2004. In 2021, he managed to trace down and negotiate a sale with the house owners, who had been planning to demolish the four-bedroom constructing and substitute it with a brand new construction. So started the following chapter of his life.
“I actually wished to set myself up once more, and this was the one manner I may get again on my ft,” says Tai.
By way of the Scottish Empty Properties Partnership (SEHP) — a collaboration between the Scottish Authorities and UK housing and homelessness charity Shelter — Tai was capable of qualify for a tax reimbursement on the supplies he bought to revive the cottage to a livable state. He claimed again £12,000 (about $15,900 US) of the £75,000 he’d spent utterly overhauling the property.
Tai had by no means performed skilled constructing work earlier than, however he reinstated electrical energy and water, changed the beams, ripped out carpets encrusted with sheep droppings, eliminated a broken chimney, repaired the roof, knocked down partitions to develop the kitchen and loo, and up to date the decor.
Professionals helped set up new home windows, and Tai took recommendation from an area builder pal. On the 17 acres of surrounding farmland, the place Tai has changed fences and gates, he has planted 7,000 bushes and plans to plant one other 3,000. He has additionally constructed a polytunnel for rising greens.
“I began this undertaking aged 63 and this was my first property renovation. I’m now 66 and assume it is a good instance of what may be achieved,” says Tai.
Tai’s deserted cottage was one among 688 that sit empty throughout Scotland’s distant Western Isles, and 46,217 empty properties throughout all of Scotland. However the SEHP is working to vary that: It has introduced 1,875 empty properties again into use throughout the nation over the previous yr, and a complete of 10,889 for the reason that initiative started in 2010.
Twenty-nine of Scotland’s 32 native authorities now have an Empty Properties program, by way of which officers attempt to monitor down the house owners of properties that they’ve recognized that might be restored, or that the general public has reported. Empty Properties officers assist property house owners apply for grants and rebates, share supplies and providers reductions, and workers an recommendation line.
The SEHP’s assist for property house owners trying to full, and even begin, renovations, is essential, contemplating that almost all of Scotland’s empty houses received that manner due to house owners intending, however failing, to renovate, in line with SEHP’s newest impression report. Different causes embrace house owners being hospitalized, dying or shifting away, or houses changing into repossessed.
Whereas the Scottish authorities has got down to create 110,000 inexpensive new houses by 2032, the SEHP’s nationwide supervisor, Tahmina Nizam, is assured that this system’s work may help ease among the stress, as restoring an empty property may be cheaper and sooner than constructing new. Its subsequent part, she says, is to assist native authorities be extra proactive and strategic about figuring out and rehoming empty properties.
“Utilizing empty houses received’t be the only response (to Scotland’s housing scarcity), however it might be a key response meaning there’s much less stress on simply counting on new buildings, particularly at a time when native authorities and the Scottish authorities are dealing with monetary issue and are having to make difficult selections,” says Nizam.
Having an Empty Properties technique and repair in place may help native authorities plan extra long-term, Nizam provides. It could assist them perceive why properties stay empty for prolonged durations and what they’ll do about it.
Applications for social housing in Scotland elevated by 5 p.c between 2022 and 2023, whereas almost 130,000 persons are on social housing ready lists. Encouragingly, round 19 p.c of the empty houses introduced again into use over the previous yr have been transformed to inexpensive housing, both by way of an area authority or housing affiliation administration scheme or privately.
SEHP is now working immediately with organizations like South of Scotland Neighborhood Housing to transform empty houses and buildings into inexpensive housing. It has additionally arrange a undertaking to assist sort out the scarcity of inexpensive lodging for well being and social care employees who must relocate for his or her jobs.
Like Robert Tai’s house on the Isle of Lewis, round 29 p.c of deserted properties that come by way of the SEHP grow to be owner-occupied — one thing Nizam nonetheless counts as a win because it counteracts the destructive impression empty houses have on their surrounding communities. For instance, empty houses can grow to be a hub for vandalism and even drug use.
“Somebody dwelling in a property is what we would like. It means you’ve received somebody who’s contributing to the native economic system, and changing into a part of the material of that neighborhood. In rural areas, the impression even one empty property can have on a small village is to not be understated,” says Nazim.
Additionally on the Isle of Lewis, the SEHP helped Karis and David Beattie safe a £38,000 grant to renovate the standard farmhouse they’d purchased in 2022. Inbuilt 1914, it had been empty for the reason that Nineteen Forties. They’ve since turned it into their dream house — and have sparked a development, attracting seven new residents to the village.
“The factor that everyone says is that they only can’t wait to see a light-weight again on in that home. Persons are excited and commenting on the adjustments that they’re seeing day after day. When you’ve got a imaginative and prescient and a ardour for this sort of undertaking then see it by way of, it’s actually rewarding to see these buildings introduced again into use,” Karis Beattie advised the SEHP.
In the meantime, Robert Tai feels his renovation is “95 p.c completed.” He formally moved into the cottage along with his new companion a yr in the past however continues to be “doing bits and items.” After the exhaustion of working across the clock for an entire yr, and being set again by a storm that flooded the home, Tai is now in a superb place.
“It’s essentially the most lovely spot by the ocean — simply actually rugged magnificence. The property could be very distant. The closest neighbors are a few mile away — I can’t even see their home,” says Tai.
“It’s actually calming and stress-free. You both prefer it, otherwise you don’t. And I adore it.”
