Empty dwelling management orders?

Chained property door, question mark and 5 November calendar highlighting concerns over six-month empty dwelling rules.

by Readers Question

12:05 AM, 20th October 2026, 3 days ago 17

Categories:

Landlord News Lettings & Management

Hello, Re: the ‘empty dwelling management order’, which is a fancy name for councils ……… for your property!

There seems to be very limited information on the details of this but it seems the new 6 month limit comes in on the 5th November.

My questions about this:

1. Does the 6 month vacant period apply after 5th November only or does it also apply to vacant periods before the 5th too?

2 Do LLs have a say on tenant referencing and backgrounds or is it councils only – it could be ‘anyone’ going in?

3 Will councils act as guarantors for rents and damage, errr?

Thank you,

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Tags: council powers, Empty Dwelling Management Orders, empty homes, Landlord rights, Tenant referencing, unpaid rent

David Read Full Bio

Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 654

9:29 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

So very difficult now to find a buyer for some properties plus a long wait for solicitors etc to pull their finger out and if you don’t sell you can not rent for 12 months. equals cunning government plan to steal your property. THEFT BIG TIME.

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Southern Boyuk

Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 105

10:00 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by David at 20/10/2026 – 09:29
Another very big question is I how will the mortgage be affected and will the council continue to pay it if they take over the property and if so will they then claim pat ownership? So many derivatives of this question what are the answers are silly or serious?

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Gromit

Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1042

10:03 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

So you decide to sell, serve notice on your tenant who moves out. Unfortunately there’s no buyers, you cannot re-rent for 12 months and after 6 months the Council takes over the property and puts a tenant in despite the property still being within the 12 month barred window. 🤔🤔

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JB

Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 845

10:38 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Two of the properties I’ve recently sold took 13 months with one sale falling through on one and 2 sales falling throuhh on the other.
Maybe trusted landlords will start sharing their spare children who can ‘live’ in the property temporarily!

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Gromit

Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1042

10:58 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 10:38
You can get “house sitters” who normally occupy your home whilst you’re on holiday. They can free provided you pay utilities/Council Tax. I’m not sure of the legality of this when it comes to a rental property.

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DPT

Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1392

11:08 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

EDMOs do not apply to main homes temporarily vacant (e.g., working away or being cared for), second homes, holiday homes, properties in probate, or homes actively being sold or let.

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JB

Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 845

11:40 AM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by DPT at 20/10/2026 – 11:08
What does that leave?

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David Read Full Bio

Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 654

12:42 PM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by DPT at 20/10/2026 – 11:08
So this will just apply all previously tenanted homes, which is discriminatory, but only a matter of time until they extend it to other homes.

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Judith Wordsworth Read Full Bio

Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1623 - Articles: 1

12:56 PM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by Southern Boyuk at 20/10/2026 – 10:00
Local Authority’s will send the landlord monthly rent monies left over after any maintenance expenses have been deducted. Nothing yet if the LA will also be charging the landlord a management fee if not compulsorily purchasing the property.

If the LA is purely tenanting and managing the property the Landlord will still be liable for BTL mortgage repayments and buildings insurance, if freehold, and service charges if leasehold. So no guarantee there will be enough money from the rent to pay the monthly mortgage repayments.

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Judith Wordsworth Read Full Bio

Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1623 - Articles: 1

12:58 PM, 20th October 2026, About 2 days ago

Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 20/10/2026 – 10:58
Could look at Guardianship.
Maybe that is the way forward with BTL’s and stuff Labour and LAs ????

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/property-guardians-fact-sheet/property-guardians-a-fact-sheet-for-current-and-potential-property-guardians

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