Nearly £6 million has been spent buying back 50 former council houses in Perth and Kinross in a bid to head off a housing crisis.
The purchase of ex-local authority properties was approved in February 2013 and has proved such a success the council is keen to acquire more.
Councillor Dave Doogan, convener of the housing and health committee, said it had proved a vital weapon in meeting local housing needs.
“The buy-back scheme is an important initiative that is helping us provide additional social housing for people who are in accommodation need,” he said.
“Like most other areas of Scotland, there is an acute shortage of social housing in Perth and Kinross.
“The buy-back scheme, along with other initiatives such as our extensive house-building programme, is making more and more affordable social housing available for local people.
“I would encourage any homeowners living in an ex-council property to consider the buy back scheme if they are thinking of selling their home we are always looking for suitable properties.”
The initiative was taken forward against a background of growing restrictions on the right to buy scheme.
A council spokesman said that the nearly 50 properties acquired took the number of council houses in Perth and Kinross to 7,412.
“The properties have helped to address acute shortage of affordable housing across Perth and Kinross, and address the mismatch between demand from customers and the area’s existing housing stock profile,” the spokesman said.
“Perth and Kinross Council is currently seeking more properties to purchase through the buy-back scheme.
“Ex-local authority houses, cottages and ground-floor properties are of particular interest.
“There is a strong demand for single-person accommodation, so one-bedroom properties will also be considered.”
The process for selling a property to the council is similar to selling on the open market.
A home report is required, and the council will typically pay the home report value minus the cost of any repairs or improvements that may be required to ensure the property meets the council’s standard.
Anyone interested in selling their ex-local authority property should email buybacks@pkc.gov.uk.