FOI Request: 112094

Information requested

How many crofts have been vacant in Shetland since 1st January 2021, and how many of those are now occupied? How many crofts have been vacant in Orkney since 1st January 2021 and how many of those are now occupied? How many crofts have been vacant in the Western Isles since 1st January 2021 and how many of those are now occupied? How many crofts have been vacant in the Highlands since 1st January 2021 and how many of those are now occupied?

Response

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We have now completed our search for information regarding vacant crofts. The number of vacant crofts within the following Council areas are as follows: Highland 653 Orkney Islands 124 Shetland Islands 237 Western Isles 30 While we can provide you with the number of vacant crofts within a specific area, we are unable to provide a breakdown of vacant crofts to occupied crofts as per your request. As the number of crofts that are vacant legally under Section 23(10) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993, is not the same as vacant physically i.e. empty. Many crofts that are legally vacant, the owner lives on and uses the croft, but because the owner is not an "owner-occupier crofter" in terms of the legislation, the croft is classified legally as vacant.