UK government expands council powers over empty homes

The UK government has announced plans to expand the powers of local councils in England to manage empty properties through Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs). Under the proposed changes, the qualifying period for a property to be considered vacant enough for council intervention will be reduced from two years to just six months.

While the legal title of the property remains with the owner, the orders allow authorities to take control of the management and rent out the property for up to seven years. The government intends to remove previous requirements that councils demonstrate specific issues, such as anti-social behavior or community impact, before seeking an order.

Proponents, including Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, argue the move is a necessary step to address the housing shortage, noting that over 300,000 homes in England were left long-term vacant last year. Critics and opposition figures have condemned the policy, characterizing it as an erosion of private property rights and an overreach of state authority.