THE Borders could get an 'empty homes officer' in an attempt to bring vacant properties in the region back into use.

Members of Scottish Borders Council will discuss the role, which 22 local authorities in Scotland now have, at the executive committee meeting on Tuesday (April 20).

Councillors on the committee will be asked to approve the use of £40,000 to fund the full-time role for 24 months.

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, funded by the Scottish Government, will also contribute £40,000 towards the position for the two years.

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A council paper, set to be discussed on Tuesday, states: “The costs of empty homes to the local economy impact on both the community and the council.

“Community impacts include reduction in property values, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, increased levels of stress and anxiety and a loss of community pride.

“Bringing these properties back into use will help to reverse these negative effects.”

According to the paper, there are 1,543 ‘long term empty properties’ in the Borders – 2.6 per cent of the total homes in the region (58,794).

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“Homes lying empty cost communities in financial terms (as well as social) for example in lost rent, lost local spending, cost of boarding up properties, dealing with and responding to anti-social behaviour, crime, and emergency services call-outs,” the paper adds.

“By proactively tackling empty homes in addition to saving on these costs, the estimated community spend generated through the re-occupation of an empty home is estimated as £13,410 per property per year.”

The overall vision for Scotland is that “no home remains empty”.

If approved, the empty homes officer will be available to provide assistance for homeowners, with the paper stating that it can cost between £6,000 and £25,000 to bring a property back into use.