Bringing empty homes back into use: audit of privately owned empty homes

Appendix 3: Sampling of local authorities for qualitative research

Sampling for the local authority qualitative interviews was undertaken on the basis of the following criteria:

• Proportion of long-term empty homes (over 6 months) in 2021 as a percentage of total dwellings – Low (0-1%), Medium (greater than 1% less than 4%), High (4% and over)
• Household population – comparisons of population of each local authority area (NRS, 2021) as small (under 50,000) medium (over 50,000 and under 145,00) and large (over 145,000).
• Type of area – City, urban, rural and island. Some of the areas were mixed e.g. City/rural mixed, urban/rural mixed, rural/island mixed.
• Type of housing market – pressured, unpressured and mixed – based on the consultancy team’s knowledge.
• Engagement with Empty Homes national and local policies – High and low – based on SEHP and Scottish Government experience.

In reporting the type of local authority in the qualitative research the following categories have been used:

• City local authority
• Urban local authority
• Urban/rural local authority
• Rural local authority
• Rural/island local authority