SEVEN more derelict properties across Glasgow are set to be compulsory purchased by the council and turned into social housing.

Glasgow councillors are expected to approve plans to buy two Govanhill flats, another two flats in Easterhouse and homes in Penilee, Baillieston and Crookston when they meet on Thursday.

The planned purchases are part of work to bring long-term vacant or rundown properties back into use. A council report stated: “The properties are lying in various states of disrepair with the vacant houses in particular causing environmental blight in their local areas.”

READ MORE: Empty flats to be turned into social housing

Flat 3/1 at 178 Allison Street has been empty since November 2015 after it failed to “meet the tolerable standard”. No repairs have been carried out and the council had to secure the flat last year to prevent illegal occupation.

The council report states Govanhill Housing Association has offered to purchase the flat on a voluntary basis but the owner has refused to sell. Flat 1/3 at 272 Allison Street, which has been repossessed by a mortgage company, was found to be illegally occupied in 2019 and again last month.

A closing order was served by the council due to the property’s condition and the occupants have now moved out. Govanhill Housing Association is set to take over the properties and plans to take on the factoring of both.

The council says it has tried to contact the owner of flat 2/2 16 Dunphail Drive, Easterhouse, which has been empty since 2018, to ask whether he will be bringing the property back into use but has had no response.

The flat at 0/1, 20 Dunphail Drive has also been vacant since 2018 and the council has had no contact with the owner since May last year. These properties would be transferred to Lochfield Park Housing Association.

Complaints have been made to the council about the “negative impact” of 63 Rosshill Road, Penilee, which has been empty since 2015. The authority has not been able to get a response from the owner and the cottage is in a state of disrepair, with an overgrown garden.

A “dilapidated” semi-detached property at 29 Old Wood Road has also been empty since 2015. The property is “blighting the area and attracting anti-social behaviour”, the council says, and is a “focus of persistent complaints from the local community and elected members”.The authority has had contact with the daughter of the deceased owner, in March last year, but no action has been taken.

READ MORE: Fire damaged flats in Priesthill set for council takeover, repairs and social rent

Another semi-detached property at 71 Beltrees Crescent has been empty since 2013 and is “causing blight to the local area”, attracting vandalism and other anti-social behaviour. No action has been carried out despite assurances from the owner, the council says.

These three properties are set to be taken on by Glasgow Housing Association.

Funding for the acquisition of all seven properties will be made available through the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Owners will continue to be given the opportunity to sell their properties to the housing associations on a voluntary basis.