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Market purchase scheme

Our market purchase scheme aims to help increase the supply of council housing to help meet housing needs across South Lanarkshire.

Supported by the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme and part of the National Acquisition Programme, our Market Purchase Scheme allows the council to consider the purchase of former council homes directly from the current owners, as well as those that are available for sale on the open market.

Since the Market Purchase Scheme was introduced, a significant number of homes have been added to the council’s stock across all areas that have been let to applicants on the council’s waiting lists, providing high quality affordable homes in areas that applicants wish to live.

This year, the council are interested in acquiring properties across South Lanarkshire with some specific requirements in some areas as noted in the table below, although all property sizes and types may be considered as housing need can regularly change:

Housing division 

Area

Current need

Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre

Bothwell, Blantyre and Uddingston

 

Hamilton

 

Larkhall, Stonehouse and Netherburn

Any size and type with a particular need for three and four bedroom properties.

Any size and type with a particular need for three and four bedroom properties.

Any size and type in central Larkhall with a particular need for ground floor or accessible properties.

Rutherglen and Cambuslang

All areas

Any size and type with increased need for ground floor or wheelchair accessible properties.

East Kilbride

All areas

Any size and any type with increased need for larger homes and ground floor or wheelchair accessible properties.

Flatted properties within Drury Lane, Globe Court, Old Vic Court, Phoenix Court, Sadlers Wells and Shaftsbury Multi Storey buildings.

Clydesdale

Carluke and Lanark

Any size and type with increased need for two and three bedroom properties.

Criteria

To be eligible for consideration for the scheme, a property must have an up-to-date home report and align with one of the following categories:

  • The purchase of a property would help increase supply and meet housing needs in high pressure letting areas. Only properties of size or type that will add to the supply and meet particular demands within an area will be considered.
  • The purchase of a property is required to support our area regeneration activity or provide a solution to long term empty property or blight within a council estate. Acquisition of a property/properties in a housing regeneration area or which allows us to tackle a particular issue in an area.
  • The purchase of the property would make us the majority owner in a block and may help facilitate future planned maintenance or improvement work required to achieve Scottish Housing Quality Standards or relevant energy efficiency standards. This can be applied to any property type to allow for the purchase of single or multiple units to achieve majority share ownership. The property must be of a size/type that meets housing needs.
  • The purchase of a property would address an urgent and specific applicant housing need promptly and more cost-effectively than adapting and converting an existing council house. Acquisition of property on the market can be considered where it provides the most effective and appropriate solution to meeting a specific housing need that is not available within our existing stock.

Properties with the following circumstances can be considered for purchase by the council:

  • On the open market
  • Directly from owner occupiers and private landlords of former council houses who are looking to sell to us and who have not placed their property for sale on the open market.
  • Where a property is not actively for sale but has been empty for more than 12 months as determined by Council Tax records. More information on this and wider support available for owners of empty properties can be viewed on the Empty homes page.
  • Directly from private landlords who currently lease properties to the council (property must be offered with vacant possession).

Benefits

There are a number of benefits to selling your home directly to the council, including:

  • No estate agent fees
  • No obligation to accept any offer we make for your property
  • No chain to consider
  • No viewings to arrange

If you are interested in selling your property to us, please contact us at landandproperty@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.