Labour-run Westminster Council has been backed by the Government in its demands for a change in Empty Management Dwelling Orders (EDMO) to allow it to take over vacant homes after six months rather than two years.

Council leader Adam Hug (pictured) is claiming it can solve its chronic housing shortage and slash its £140m temporary accommodation bill by commandeering the borough’s 11,000 empty properties.

And he describes the two-year rule as ‘extremely limited’ and rarely used, with just six in the UK’s last recorded period in 2018 (RICS).

We’re looking for the Government to help reform the empty dwelling management order system.”

He said: “We’re looking for the Government to help reform the empty dwelling management order system and a number of other changes to help local councils and their empty property officers have those productive conversations with landowners to bring properties into use.”

As was reported in The Neg last month, local agents reacted furiously to the news, with James Benson of James of Westminster questioning whether it was just ‘a money-making scheme’ and claiming it could cause serious damage to investor confidence in the rental market.

And Dr Kristian Niemietz, editorial director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, commented: “The issue is that we haven’t been building enough houses for more than 40 years.

Government supports idea

“Westminster Council, like many other councils, is just trying to distract from that.”

The Government has now waded into the row, with an unnamed MHCLG spokesperson telling the BBC that they supported the idea of making it easier and faster for councils to take over empty homes and said that the Government would soon publish more details on the matter.