Families in Edinburgh face eviction. The Ministry of Defence claims their homes are “surplus to requirement” at Dreghorn estate.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation manages military properties. They work for the Ministry of Defence. DIO wants to sell surplus property. Eviction notices went to those 47 families.
Dreghorn estate sits near Dreghorn Barracks. Military, private, and council tenants all live there. DIO said their properties were “surplus” back in 2022.
Edinburgh Council tries to buy empty homes back. They use a Tenanted Acquisition Scheme. It helps provide more social housing. They bought 23 Dreghorn homes by March 2023. These purchases didn’t include homes of the threatened families.
Now, they want to buy 17 more properties. That’s according to a January 2025 report. Living Rent is a tenants union. Living Rent sent a letter with demands to the council.
On February 24, they launched a petition too. It asks the council to help. They want the acquisition extended. Private rents have greatly increased since 2010. Two-room homes in Lothian rose by 104 percent. Government data shows that increase.
The MOD responded to eviction plans in October 2024. They said Dreghorn estate was “surplus to requirements.” Tenants got eviction notice a month later. Two months notice was given.
An MOD spokesperson said the properties are unnecessary. They were sub-let temporarily. Tenants agreed to a two-month eviction notice. Sub-lets are never a long-term social housing source.