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Edinburgh housing progress moves more than 350 households into settled homes

Edinburgh is ending a temporary suspension of its normal housing allocations after progress in moving families out of unsuitable temporary accommodation.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

Housing in Edinburgh, where the council has reported progress on its housing emergency plan Image: Scottish Housing NewsOriginal source

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More than 350 Edinburgh households, including 200 families, have moved from unsuitable temporary accommodation into settled tenancies during a period of emergency changes to the city’s housing system.

City councillors have now agreed to end the temporary suspension of the normal allocations policy after progress in reducing empty council homes and increasing the supply of suitable temporary accommodation.

Since Edinburgh’s Housing Emergency Action Plan was agreed in 2024, the council and its partners say 1,473 affordable homes have been completed, work has started on a further 1,144 sites and 866 additional properties have been bought for temporary accommodation.

The city is also introducing grants of up to £20,000 to help owners bring empty homes back to a lettable standard. In return, participating properties will be made available for private sector leasing for three or five years, adding another route for increasing the city’s housing supply.