Headline: Labour Plans to Expand Council Powers Over Long-Term Empty Homes

Date: 28 September 2026

Tags: UK Politics, Housing, Property, Local Government

Summary:

• Labour plans to let councils seek control of homes left empty for six months, reducing the current two-year threshold.

• Empty Dwelling Management Orders allow councils to manage privately owned properties and rent them out for up to seven years.

• Property ownership remains with the original owner when an Empty Dwelling Management Order is imposed.

• Ministers plan to remove requirements for councils to demonstrate problems such as anti-social behaviour before seeking an order.

• The government is considering protecting councils from some costs associated with taking control of empty properties.

• Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the changes could help address Britain’s housing shortage.

• Labour says the measures will target long-term vacancies rather than homes temporarily empty during renovations or ownership changes.

• Conservative politicians criticised the proposals, arguing they would weaken private property rights.

• Official figures recorded 303,185 English homes empty for at least six months in October 2025.

• Ministers say councils have made no applications for Empty Dwelling Management Orders since 2021.

Why this matters: The proposals would significantly lower the threshold for councils to intervene when privately owned homes remain unoccupied.

What’s next: The government is expected to determine the detailed rules, exemptions and financial protections applying to councils using the expanded powers.