Scotland•1 active council scheme

City of Edinburgh empty home schemes

City of Edinburgh offers a landlord incentive scheme - money paid or guaranteed to landlords who let to council-referred tenants, such as guaranteed rent, rent in advance or a deposit guarantee. Each scheme below links to the council's own page where you can verify eligibility and apply.

Active schemes

Private Sector Leasing

Guaranteed rent / leasing

Guaranteed rental income, leases up to 5 years, managed by Link Housing Association

Eligibility

Landlords lease their property to the council through the Private Sector Leasing scheme managed by Link Housing Association Limited, typically for up to five years. Landlords receive guaranteed rental income even when the property is empty or the tenant does not pay, plus property management and maintenance. Properties are sublet to people in housing need as an alternative to temporary accommodation.

Council tax premium

A property is classed as "long-term empty" once it has been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a qualifying period. The premium is charged on top of the standard council tax bill.

After 1 year

+100%

After 5 years

+100%

After 10 years

+100%

View council source

Notes

Scottish council. Empty Homes Officer (supported by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, SEHP) signposts owners to Public Sector Leasing. Council does not directly offer a loan or grant. Council tax premium: 100% for long-term empties from 2026/27; planned 300% increase was suspended.

Council website

City of Edinburgh

Visit council site →

Scheme content is sourced from City of Edinburgh's own published pages and UK government open data (OGL v3). Verified bi-monthly via Proppys' research and review pipeline. Always confirm the latest eligibility on the council's own site before applying.