HOUSING bosses in Inverclyde have been slammed after damning figures revealed it's taking them more than EIGHT months to re-let empty properties in the area.

According to the Scottish Housing Regulator, properties owned by Greenock-based River Clyde Homes (RCH) are lying empty for an average of 263.2 days after being vacated by a departing tenant.

That compares with a national average of just 56.7 days.

The registered social landlord has been heavily criticised by two local councillors who say people in Inverclyde are being forced to live in unsuitable homes while there are properties lying empty.

Councillors Colin Jackson and Tommy McVey have hit out at the statistics, saying that people are living in unsuitable homes while properties are lying empty.

Councillor Tommy McVey says RCH's performance has "got steadily worse". (Image: George Munro)

Councillor Jackson, a long-standing housing campaigner and a persistent critic of RCH, says he believes the blame lies firmly with management.

He said: "I thought it was taking them so long because the houses needed a lot of work. But it was really poor management.

"The contractor they were using wasn't turning round the houses quick enough. Now they've got a new contractor who is turning them round quicker.

"RCH's failure to return these properties back for rental within a reasonable timescale is firmly the fault of management, and highlights a lack of proper planning within the organisation.

"Many of these void properties are two- and three-bedroom home and are in decent condition. 

"There is no good reason for them to be lying empty for as long as they are, especially when there are so many families desperate to secure a decent property.

"I am inundated by people looking for larger houses and I feel I'm letting them down."

Separate figures from the regulator also show that RCH's rental for a three-bedroom property is 12.2 per cent above the national average.

Uncollected rent stands at 6.1 per cent for RCH, compared to a Scotland-wide figure of 1.4 per cent.

Concillor Jackson, who represents Inverclyde Central, said: "These homes lying empty also reduces the income RCH are receiving.

"That could well be the reason why RCH tenants , as reported by the Scottish Housing regulator, across every size of tenure, are paying rents well above the Scottish average."

Councillor McVey said there was high demand for empty RCH properties and echoed Cllr Jackson's view that people waiting for a suitable home were suffering from RCH 'mismanagement'.

The independent councillor said: "The data in the Scottish Housing Regulator's report is concerning. In 2023/24 it took RCH an average of 263 days to re-let a home against a Scottish average of 56 days.

"I know that things can happen, and any one year can be a blip, but RCH's performance has got steadily worse.

"In 2021/22 it was 173 days, which was probably influenced by Covid, but since then things have deteriorated. In 2022/23 it was 201 days and it’s now 263 days.

"RCH are also now losing 6.1 per cent of the total rent available to them against a Scottish average of 1.4 per cent. These are not good figures.

"I do accept that it can be difficult to let homes in areas of low demand, but I have had cases where tenants have accepted properties and are waiting for months to move in due to the delay in getting the properties ready.

"None of these homes were in areas of low demand.

"One family accepted a home late last year and they have still not been able to move in and it is proving to be extremely stressful for them as they are living with relatives in an overcrowded house."

A River Clyde Homes spokesperson said, “Last year, River Clyde Homes successfully returned several long-standing vacant properties to our letting pool, which we were aware would impact our average re-let times.

"Our goal is always to re-let properties as quickly as possible. Occasionally, delays beyond our control occur, and in these circumstances we maintain open communication with any customers affected.

"Available homes are advertised every Friday on our dedicated website, www.riverclydehomeslets.org.uk, and existing or prospective customers can contact us on 01475 788887.”