A FLAT that has been empty since 1999 is one of three to be taken over by the council to provide accommodation for homeless people.

The abandoned flat in Argyle Street, in the Finnieston area, has been vacant since 1999 and attempts to contact the owner have failed.

Yorkhill Housing Association, which has four other flats in the block, wanted to acquire it but has been unable to.

The council will a Compulsory Purchase Order on the flat and give it over to the association for social rent.

Two other flats in the city, empty for several years, are also to be taken over.

A flat in Govanhill, in Allison Street, has been vacant since 2000 and is in poor condition.

Glasgow Times:

The CPO will allow it to be transferred to Govanhill Housing Association. 

The housing association’s acquisition of this flat will allow major common repair works to be carried out and the flat will be brought back to productive use as social housing.

A third flat, in Balcurvie Road has been unoccupied since February 2000.

It will be transferred to Provanhall Housing Association.

Glasgow Times:

The council said the housing association is in the process of acquiring three other flats within this tenement and following essential common repair works to the common close area and internal improvements to these flats, all four flats will be brought back into use as social housing.

Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets at Glasgow City Council, said: “Today’s decision to compulsory purchase these flats continues the council’s work to not only provide homeless people and families with new homes, but brings empty homes back into productive use and both increases the supply and improves the quality of the city’s housing stock. 

“We will continue to use such powers and our partnership with local housing associations to make more homes available in Glasgow.”