The council loses out on tens of thousands of pounds of rent money every week due to the number of empty properties across Aberdeenshire.
Councillors at the communities committee heard yesterday that there were more than 200 homes without tenants in the north-east.
Many of the flats are lying vacant because there are upgrades to be carried out.
Council head of housing Rob Simpson confirmed the council was losing out on a “significant” sum of money which could be “well in the tens of thousands each week”.
A financial report discussed at the meeting showed that lost rent money from the first five months of this financial year was already £414,000 over budget.
Fraserburgh SNP councillor Charles Buchan said: “Many residents approach me asking ‘If we have a housing crisis, why are there so many houses left empty for long periods of time?’
“We must do everything we can to avoid having scarce, much-needed housing lying unoccupied.
“Fraserburgh has a huge waiting list for housing so it is very frustrating to see a large number of properties lying empty waiting for new windows and doors.
“The old Scalloway Park Children’s home was replaced by a brand new building 200 metres away.
“It has taken years for the council to decide to convert the original building into six much needed flats.”
Banff SNP councillor Glen Reynolds labelled empty homes as a “blight on the landscape”.
He said: “I have no doubt that the council is determined to work harder in house and with contractors, to speed up what is a terrible situation, not least lost rental income which could meaningfully be spent on other projects.”
Chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council’s communities committee Anne Stirling said a report would be prepared to give details of the measures taken to minimise the financial impact of empty properties.
She added: “The council has taken the view, as agreed unanimously by all parties on the communities committee, to complete upgrade works to meet and exceed the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency standards with the minimum disruption to tenants.”
And councillor Doreen Mair said the upgrade work being carried out in properties would give future tenants “warmer and cheaper to run” properties.