Councils in England are to be given stronger powers to take over the management of privately owned homes that have stood empty for just six months.
The Government is reducing the qualifying period for an Empty Dwelling Management Order, known as an EDMO, from two years to six months.
The orders allow local authorities to take over the management of qualifying empty properties and return them to occupation, while the legal owner continues to own the home.
Threshold cut from two years to six months
Under the reforms, councils will no longer have to wait for a property to have been continuously empty for at least two years before seeking an EDMO.
The qualifying period will instead be reduced to six months, potentially bringing significantly more long-term empty properties within reach of the powers.
The Government says the changes are intended to help councils bring unused homes back into occupation more quickly.
Councils take over management — not ownership
An Empty Dwelling Management Order does not transfer ownership of a property to the council.
Instead, the local authority can assume responsibility for managing the home, arranging necessary work and letting it to tenants. The owner retains legal ownership.
EDMOs can allow councils to manage properties for periods of up to seven years, subject to the statutory process and relevant approvals.
Government to remove additional hurdles
The Government is also changing the process councils must follow when seeking an order.
Ministers say local authorities will no longer be required to provide evidence on matters including anti-social behaviour or the level of community support for an EDMO when making an application to the Residential Property Tribunal.
The changes are intended to simplify the process and make the existing powers easier for councils to use.
Further reforms being considered
The Government says it is considering additional changes to strengthen councils' ability to tackle empty homes.
The latest announcement therefore represents a significant expansion of the circumstances in which EDMOs can be pursued, but it does not give councils an automatic right to confiscate privately owned homes after six months.
The key distinction is that the power concerns management of qualifying empty properties rather than transfer of their ownership.
Government targets long-term empty properties
Ministers argue that bringing more empty homes back into use could increase housing supply while reducing the impact neglected properties can have on surrounding communities.
The reforms apply to England and form part of the Government's wider housing and local-government agenda.