Councils will be given more powers to seize empty homes and bring them into use

Local leaders will get stronger powers to take possession of empty and derelict homes so they can be brought back into use, Angela Rayner has announced.

The Housing Secretary revealed the plans on the first day of Labour’s annual conference, which are aimed at bringing the 300,000 empty homes across England back into use.

The sweeping reforms to Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) are being made as the Government aims to build 1.5 million homes before its self-imposed deadline of 2029.

EDMOs can be used to restore homes for use for an initial 12 months, and up to a total of eight years, but no applications have been made since 2021.

Ms Rayner’s plans will reduce the period of time a house must be empty before it can be taken over from two years to six months.

Ministers also aim to speed up the backroom process which allows councils to seize properties through a tribunal system, and want to protect local authorities from absorbing the costs associated with using EDMOs.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner hailed the plans (PA)

PA Wire

Ms Rayner said: “With so many children and families still in need of a safe and secure home, we can’t sit by and allow 300,000 long-term empty dwellings to be left unused.

“That’s why Labour in power is putting the tools in local leaders’ hands to take over desperately needed derelict homes and put them back into use. We’re reversing the Tories’ damaging changes by supporting councils to intervene and use untapped powers to meet local housing need.

“These changes will ensure councils can intervene earlier to prevent properties from falling into serious disrepair by accelerating their return to use and simplify the process to empower local authorities to act more decisively and with greater speed.

“But we won’t stop there, and we’ll explore further changes to protect local authorities from absorbing the costs they face in taking over empty homes.”