The Scottish Property Federation has backed calls from the Conservative party in the country to scrap proposals to increase empty property rates.

Gavin Brown MSP, a spokesman for the Scottish Conservative Party, described the plans to increase the rates charged on empty properties as a “complete mess”.

He added: “Everyone wants to see empty properties brought back onto the market, but almost nobody believes this is the way to make that happen.

“Most properties are empty because there is a lack of demand in the market; simply taxing them more will do nothing to help.”

The issue is set to be debated in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (June 21st), but the views of the Conservatives has been backed by landlords in Scotland.

David Melhuish, director of the Scottish Property Federation, said: “There is no evidence to suggest that this tax hike will bring buildings back in to use.”

He noted that the situation in England suggests that, instead of boosting homes on the market, a higher tax could lead to the demolition of usable buildings and end the development of new business space.

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