Decision Maker: Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 11, 2025

Purpose:

Content: The Committee resolved:- (i)             to note the progress made by the Housing Board from June 2024 to November 2025; (ii)            to approve the refreshed Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix A; (iii)          to note the Aberdeen Cyrenians Summary Response to the Aberdeen City Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix B;   (iv)          to note the Homelessness Benchmarking Summary Report available in Appendix C; (v)           to note the cross-party agreement to declare a housing emergency in 2024, acknowledging the decades of underinvestment in Council stock; (vi)          to note that the refresh of the Housing Emergency Action Plan was presented to the cross-party working group for endorsement on the 6th October 2025; (vii)         to note the work being undertaken to reduce voids in the city, with360 fewer lettable voids in October 2025 compared to the last year and  work to improve relet timings which has already resulted in a positive decrease on our overall relet times, reducing from the 266 days in June 2025 to 247 days as at 31st October 2025 ; (viii)       to acknowledge the work being undertaken by Council officers to simplify and reduce the void path, to ensure timely return of properties into use; (ix)          to note that the Council in 2024/2025 relet 2,536 properties, around 11% of our housing stock and equating to an average of 211 properties per month; (x)           to note a significant reduction in live homelessness cases, with the city now ranking sixth lowest per 10,000 households, outperforming other major urban areas; (xi)          to agree that the ambition outlined in this plan to reduce void numbers to pre-pandemic levels and halve the timescales for voids to be turned aroundwill help address the local housing emergency; (xii)         to note that around 40% of the circa £50m Repairs and Maintenance budget is spent on voids, with the remaining 60% used for cyclical maintenance and work to ensure Council properties meet current national standards; and (xiii)       to thank Aberdeen Cyrenians for their review of the Housing Emergency Action Plan and for the recommendations which have been embedded within the Plan.