Andy Burnham warns LHA freeze is driving up temporary accommodation costs
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Empty homes face earlier council takeover
12:01 AM, 29th September 2026, 3 days ago
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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.”
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council takeover powers, Empty Dwelling Management Orders, empty homes, housing in England, Landlords, property rights
12 comments on this article
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1663
9:26 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
I’d let the properties, free of charge, to my adult grandchildren. Preferably the ones that are students.
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 57
9:30 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
It’s just communism through the back door. You vote Labour you get Labour.
Member Since April 2015 - Comments: 471
9:56 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
Does this mean that if one is selling a property and it has been empty for more than 6 months the council can take control of it?
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 12
9:58 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
So if you get a property back to sell – and then the sale falls through – you cannot relet for 12 months, so the council can grab the property during that fallow period. Presumably as you are still the owner they charge you for any updates to the property (EPC C compliance for example) ??
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 440
10:25 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
It’s the same old story – those at the top create the problem and dump it on someone else’s lap!
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 627
11:28 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
Wonderful, so now the market is flooded with unsaleable homes they can come and grab them for their own rental company (The council). It can take 4 months just between offer and completion ! What a bunch of devious thieves.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 440
11:40 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
The government release details a bit at a time – it softens the blow, clever!
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 73
11:56 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian CB at 29/09/2026 – 09:58
My thoughts exactly. Once they have the new register up and running they will know exactly when your tenants have left.
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 73
11:57 AM, 29th September 2026, About 3 days ago
Was that in their manifesto? I think not.
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 105
1:13 PM, 29th September 2026, About 2 days ago
I’m trying to get my head around this… Is this change referring to all empty ‘residential dwellings’ or to dwellings which were previously let and are left unlet for more than 6 months?
So, if I am hospitalised for 6 months plus, I could lose my home?
And how much will this process cost the council and how long will it take?
So the council starts proceedings and the property owner decides to sell it at auction to get rid of it. Surely the council can’t stop someone selling their own property whether the council has started the legal process or not?
This all sounds very silly to me. What if the property isn’t habitable, by modern standards?
Just too silly for words.