MORE empty homes will be seized by Glasgow City Council as a crackdown on derelict properties and absent landlords continues.

Councillors have backed compulsory purchasing six properties before transferring ownership to housing associations.

The plan includes four flats – 25 Holmhead Place 0/1, Cathcart, 670 Eglinton Street 2/2, Eglinton Toll, 36 Elizabeth Street 0/2, Cessnock and 17 Harley Street 0/1, Cessnock – and two commercial units, both on Harley Street.

The latest move follows a decision in March to force landlords in a tenement block on Westmoreland Street, Govanhill, to sell, after flats had been ruled inhabitable by authorities. Two derelict properties in Ibrox Street were compulsory purchased in April.

Ruairi Kelly, convener of the council’s contracts and property committee, thanked staff for their work on empty homes.

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“I know that it’s quite a big push to bring a lot of closes and properties that are either rundown or causing a blight on a number of our communities back into public ownership,” he said.

The four residential properties were identified as long-term empty homes while the two commercial units are “causing an environmental blight in the local area” after lying vacant for many years, a report to councillors states.

The Holmhead Place flat, unoccupied since December 2009, will be transferred to Cathcart and District Housing Association, which will carry out essential repairs before using it for social housing. Council officers have been unable to track down the owner to acquire the property voluntarily.

Southside Housing Association will take on the Eglinton Street flat, which has also been empty for nearly ten years. The owner has confirmed he has no funds to carry out repairs, the council report adds.

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Council staff have been unable to find the current owners of the Elizabeth Street flat, which has been empty for over 20 years.

Neighbours have complained about the state of the property, with Govan Housing Association stepping in to bring it up to standard.

The housing association will also take on the flat and two premises on Harley Street. The flat has been unoccupied since at least 2006, with no contact from the owner since summer last year.

Both shop units will be converted into social housing.

Owners will be given the chance to sell their properties voluntarily throughout the process.

“Owners will be entitled to seek compensation for the loss of their property from the date of confirmation, in accordance with statutory provisions,” the report states.

Funding for the acquisitions will come from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.