Labour cracks down on landlords forcing them to rent out empty properties

Labour cracks down on landlords forcing them to rent out empty properties

9:44 AM, 18th December 2024, About 4 days ago 25

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Landlords could be forced to rent out empty properties under new powers announced by the Labour government.

The English Devolution White Paper reveals councils will be given powers to take over vacant rental properties.

The plans lack detail about the specific new powers but are expected to resemble Labour’s recently introduced High Street Rental Auctions scheme.

The scheme allows councils to auction off empty shops that have been vacant for over 365 days within a 24-month period.

Strengthen local authorities’ ability to take over the management of vacant properties

The English Devolution White Paper says: “We will strengthen local authorities’ ability to take over the management of vacant residential premises and introduce large selective licensing schemes to improve conditions in the private rental sector, without requiring the Secretary of State’s approval.”

The plans come after the Labour government announced plans for a “devolution revolution” to put power back into local communities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, says the English Devolution White paper will create big changes that put power back in local hands.

She said: “Our English Devolution White Paper will be a turning point when we finally see communities, people and places across England begin to take back control over the things that matter to them.

“When our proud towns and cities are once again given the powers they need to drive growth and raise living standards as part of our Plan for Change.

“It’s a plan for putting more money in people’s pockets, putting politics back in the service of working people and a plan for stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and decline, that will deliver a decade of national renewal.

“Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a Minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country, becoming the default position of government.”

Scandal of empty properties in London

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has been urging councils to take action on the “scandal” of empty properties across the capital.

According to Mr Khan, around 30,000 homes currently lie vacant in London. He has previously called on Ministers to ease restrictions on Empty Dwelling Management Orders, which allow councils to temporarily take over empty homes but have become more limited in recent years.


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Slooky

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8:14 AM, 21st December 2024, About A day ago

Reply to the comment left by Jim K at 18/12/2024 - 11:05
They will auction them. Same principle as new powers given to them to get high street commercial property back in use.

John Dace

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9:56 AM, 21st December 2024, About A day ago

I would remind all commenters - especially ‘Dismayed Landlord’ - this is a public forum. Our enemies will read what you say and use quotes from landlords to support actions to attack us. You can unwittingly fuel the fire of landlord haters.
This is not a rant down the pub scenario.

Judith Wordsworth

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10:41 AM, 21st December 2024, About A day ago

Take over temporarily is the worrying word.

If compulsory purchase at market price that would be great for many wanting to get out of the PRS.

No agents fees, possibly no legal fees if solely carried out with a sales contract and TR1.

GlanACC

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13:13 PM, 21st December 2024, About A day ago

I am not the slightest bit worried about this proposal, little will come of it. There will allways be a way round any proposal that is implemented.. Just put the property up for sale -they can't do much about that and there won't be any compulsory purchases.

Keith Wellburn

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13:34 PM, 21st December 2024, About A day ago

No such thing as a vacant rental property per se. (unless it has a specific planning consent such as C4 HMO use).

A dwelling house is normally under C3 classification and unless there has been a so called Article 4 Directive applied in the area can move from single family dwelling (either owner occupied or rented out) to small HMO or holiday letting.

When the tenants leave it is basically an empty house that could be rented as a family home or put to other uses (with a minimum of owner occupation) without any planning permission.

The fact that Labour are talking in this arrogant manner (I don’t have a problem with them having reasonable powers to attempt to get empty property into use) and yet again managing to conflate landlords with yet another problem just shows what they really think of us.

Long term empty properties are rarely owned by true landlords in any case - normal business minded people would either do something with it or sell if it was surplus to requirements. The only exception would be if Labour were putting policies in place which would result in a mass refusal to accept new tenants (which seems likely in many cases) but the market conditions meant landlords considered waiting for the overhang of unsold properties to clear to get a fair sale price.

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