Friday February 27th 2026
A rundown home in Mount Vernon could be bought by Glasgow City Council
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
A rundown home in Mount Vernon is set to be bought by the council and then sold to a private developer — marking the start of a new approach.
Glasgow City Council has been using compulsory purchase orders (CPO) to bring long-term empty properties back into use, with homes taken over by housing associations.
A “neglected” three-bed semi-detached house at Linthligow Gardens, which has been deemed “inhabitable” and needs significant repairs, could become the first to be marketed to private companies.
Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, the council’s housing convener, said the approach would be “another way to bring these empty properties back into use”. While the council’s “main focus” is to bring homes “back into use for social housing”, not all empty properties can be taken on by social landlords, an official added.
The Mount Vernon property has been unoccupied since November 2024 when the remaining owner moved into a care home. The other owner has been living in a care home since 2013, according to a council report.
It adds the house has “deteriorated over many years” and a closing order was served in late 2023 after it was deemed “uninhabitable” by housing, environmental health and social work services.
“It is now in a state of serious disrepair which is having a negative impact on neighbouring homes and contributing to wider environmental blight,” the report continues.
“The condition of the property has resulted in a significant number of complaints from local residents and elected members.”
An empty home is classed as a privately-owned property which has been vacant for six months or more. Officials said the house needs “comprehensive” internal refurbishment and “significant” external repairs.
“Given the property’s location and potential value on completion of the works required this is seen as an opportunity for a potential private developer to bring the property back into use,” they added.
Asked why private developers were being considered, an official told councillors at Thursday’s contracts and property committee that there hadn’t been any interest from nearby social landlords.
“We think this is an opportunity to involve more partners in the whole CPO process,” he said. “You will be aware of the issue with empty homes across the city, and the numbers of empty homes we’ve got across the city.
“They can not all be brought back into use through registered social landlord partners.”
The official added the property will “cost significant amounts of money to bring it back into use”. “But we think a private developer will be able to pay a market value for the property in its current condition, carry out the required works and still be able to turn a profit at the end of it.”
The planned CPO will need to be confirmed by the Scottish Government before the council begins to advertise the property. All costs, including any claim for compensation from the owners, will be met by the prospective purchaser.
The council report adds there has been engagement with the “current owners in the hope of agreeing a way to bring this property back into use”.
“Discussions will continue with the owners in the hope that they sell their property on a voluntary basis prior to confirmation of the CPO,” it continues.
“Failing this, the owners will be entitled to seek compensation for the loss of their property from the date of confirmation of the CPO.”
After the meeting, Cllr Kelly said: “Our empty homes strategy has brought over 3,000 properties back into use and is a great example of the creativity and flexibility of this council in finding solutions to the housing emergency.
“This pilot is about taking that further, using CPO powers to acquire vacant private housing in areas where even if there’s no housing associations to rent the properties, we can still bring them back into productive use.”
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