Empty homes face earlier council takeover

Councils in England will be able to take control of homes left empty for six months under government plans to cut the current two-year threshold.

The powers they would use have attracted no applications since 2021, according to the government.

Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) allow local authorities to take over a property’s management and rent it out for up to seven years, while ownership stays with the owner.

Councils will also no longer need to provide evidence relating to anti-social behaviour or community support when seeking an order through the Residential Property Tribunal.

Bringing empty homes back

Housing Secretary Angela 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.”

Former Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake criticised the plans on X/Twitter, saying: “The Loony Left are always keen to revoke our fundamental rights when it becomes convenient to do so; on this occasion, property rights.

“Seizing someone’s home because you disapprove of how they use it is classic socialist authoritarianism.”

Long-term empty homes

There were 303,185 homes in England vacant for at least six months in October 2025, according to official figures reported by The Telegraph.

That was a 14.5% rise on a year earlier, with long-term empty properties accounting for 1.2% of England’s housing stock.

The total includes homes awaiting probate, undergoing renovation or being prepared for sale.

Meanwhile, ministers are exploring further changes to protect councils from absorbing the costs of taking over empty properties.

Property rights backlash

Councils have been able to seek EDMOs since 2006, when the threshold was six months, before it was extended to two years in 2012.

Television presenter and property commentator Kirstie Allsopp questioned councils’ capacity to act, telling The Telegraph: “Most councils can’t grant planning permission for a downstairs loo without six months’ notice; the idea that they’ll be seizing properties and renovating them is an absolute fantasy.”

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said on X/Twitter: “It’s not a silver bullet but bringing more empty homes back into use can help solve the housing crisis.

“We’re announcing strengthened powers for councils to take control of long-term empty homes and use them to house families in need.”