A local council has approved plans to purchase a group of privately owned homes in an effort to prevent tenants from being evicted and becoming homeless. The decision forms part of a wider intervention aimed at keeping residents in their homes while bringing more properties into the social housing system.
Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee has agreed to proceed with the acquisition of 26 homes currently owned by a private landlord. The funding for the purchase will come from a combination of council resources and support from the Scottish Government. Once the transaction is completed, the properties will be transferred into the council’s social housing stock.
The move comes after eviction notices were issued to tenants living in homes owned by Torah Capital Limited and its subsidiary TC CAPS3 Limited. The properties are located across West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss and Denbeath. In some cases, eviction proceedings had already started, creating urgent concerns for affected households and local housing services.
Council representatives say the decision was taken to ensure that families are not forced into homelessness and to prevent disruption to established communities. Housing spokesperson Cllr Judy Hamilton said the council’s priority has been to support tenants from the moment eviction concerns were raised.
She explained that early discussions with residents highlighted the uncertainty they were facing, and the council committed to exploring all available options to keep people in their homes wherever possible. According to her, the intervention allows the authority to step in at a critical stage and provide long-term stability for affected families.
The council also stressed that the purchase will help avoid additional pressure on emergency housing services, which are often required when tenants lose their homes unexpectedly. By retaining residents within their existing properties, the authority hopes to reduce disruption and maintain community cohesion in the affected areas.
Once the acquisition is finalised, council officers will continue working with the current landlord to complete all legal processes required for the transfer of ownership. After the homes are brought under council control, they will be gradually upgraded to meet required housing standards. This includes improvements to ensure the properties are suitable for long-term social housing use.
The strategy is part of a wider approach to addressing housing pressures and increasing the availability of secure accommodation across the region. By bringing privately rented homes into public ownership, the council aims to provide more stable and affordable housing options for those in need.
In addition to this acquisition, Fife Council is also moving forward with plans to expand its housing supply through the purchase of 14 newly built homes in Coaltown of Wemyss. These properties, delivered by Persimmon Homes with backing from Scottish Government funding, will provide a mix of two and three-bedroom houses designed to support families in the Levenmouth area.
This second development is part of the council’s broader Affordable Housing Programme, which seeks to increase the overall supply of social housing and improve access for households on waiting lists. Once allocated, the 14 new homes are expected to support up to 30 households through a transfer-based system, helping to free up existing social housing stock for other applicants.
Together, these initiatives highlight a growing trend of local authorities stepping in to secure housing directly in response to rising demand and limited availability. By combining emergency interventions with long-term development plans, the council aims to stabilise housing provision while reducing the risk of homelessness in vulnerable communities.
The approach reflects a wider shift in housing strategy, where councils are increasingly using acquisitions alongside new builds to meet demand more quickly. For residents affected by the recent evictions, the move offers reassurance that they will be able to remain in their homes under new ownership arrangements, while also benefiting from improved long-term security.
As housing pressures continue to rise, the council says it will keep exploring similar opportunities where they can protect tenants and strengthen local housing supply at the same time.
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