West Lothian Council has slashed the turnaround time for empty council homes by eight days after investing more than £1 million in repairs and staffing. Over 1,300 homes received repairs in the past year, and more than 1,000 properties were re-let, according to a report to the council's Housing services committee.
Investment and Dedicated Team Drive Improvements
Contractors have been brought in, additional staff hired, and a dedicated interdepartmental voids team formed to tackle a huge backlog of repairs. The council allocated £1.2 million in its annual budget to support contractors working alongside council staff to complete housing improvements.
The poor condition of many homes returned as voids—often requiring major refits—had exacerbated the problem. The new voids team brings together officers from building services and housing to collaborate and reduce delays in getting homes back to tenants.
Performance Metrics Show Progress
The current re-letting performance for 2026/27 (April and May) stands at 64.57 days, a further reduction of six days from 2025/26. The service has rented 10% more properties in the first two months of 2026/27 compared to the same period last year.
A new agreement between the council and Scottish Gas provides utility support throughout the void period, ensuring homes remain maintained while empty.
Breakdown of Lets by Ward
A total of 1,022 homes were let in the last year. Whitburn and Blackburn saw the highest activity, with 90 mainstream tenancies and 145 temporary tenancies agreed. In Livingston, 183 homes were let across two council wards; Bathgate had 150, Armadale 128, and Broxburn 105. Other wards recorded: Breich Valley 136, East Livingston and East Calder 46, and Linlithgow 39.
Future Plans
The report stated the council plans to “reduce the overall number of void properties within the service through a consistent approach to management.” The voids team continues to work on clearing the backlog and maintaining the improved turnaround times.
