A Highland philanthropist has pledged to bequeath more than a dozen properties to charity to tackle the housing crisis.
Retired businessman Don Michie, who lives in Onich near Fort William, said he wanted to do something to alleviate a problem that is seen as a major factor in rural depopulation.
Mr Michie, 75, trained as a civil engineer in Glasgow and returned to the Highlands in the 1970s to launch Don Michie Construction.
Through his working life he built up a portfolio of 14 rental properties: five in Lochaber, four in Argyll and four in Glasgow.
"Over the years when I had a bit of a jingle in my pocket I bought bits of land and properties," he said.
"They supplement my pension. But my wife and I have no kids so I'm trying to do a deal with various local authorities.
"What I propose is charging an annual rent equal to 15% of the property's value.
"So if a property was worth £100,000, the rent would be £15,000; however, some of my properties are worth as little as £30,000, so the annual rent for these would be £4500.00.
"They will have a lifelong lease for as long as I live and the rent will not go up."
He said his properties all currently have tenants but that local authorities would be able to replace them with someone on their housing list when they leave.
Don and his wife Mary, 73, have also set up a charity called the Don and Mary Michie foundation.
"When we die the properties would pass to the charity and we would give the council the option to buy the property at 80% of today's value," he said.
"So they might end up buying a flat worth £100,000 for £80,000, which in 10 years time would be worth £200,000.
"Of the four local authorities I have approached, three have said that is a phenomenal opportunity to add to their housing stock at massive discount. The only exception is Highland Council who have never replied to any of my letters."
"I would like to recover my outlays but I'm not looking to make any profit."
The money raised for the Don and Mary Michie Foundation would be donated to charitable causes.
He said it is his hope that some of the funds would be used to build a new public park in Fort William.
He said: "My proposal to the local authorities is tentative and subject to legal scrutiny. At this stage, it simply outlines an idea."
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Mr Michie also owns plots on the Isle of Skye, Islay and Lochaber and would now like to set up a community housing trust to allow the land to be used for social housing.
He said that he would make no profit from the sales.
He said: "I have spoken to several prospective landlords in the private sector, including a few from India, who see this as a wonderful opportunity to acquire a portfolio of rental properties.
"Their involvement would fly in the face of my aspiration for the houses to be taken in as housing stock by either local authorities or a housing association."
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We already work in partnership with Mr Michie, renting properties from him to provide much-needed temporary accommodation.
"As a stock transfer local authority, we no longer hold housing stock and do not act as a landlord.
"We have, however, put Mr Michie in touch with social housing landlords operating locally who may benefit from his generous offer.”
A spokesman for Highland Council said: "We are in contact with the gentleman but are not in a position to comment on the details of this discussion.”
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