Minister confirms plan to make landlords fill empty shops

A Government minister has confirmed that Labour is to force landlords of commercial units on high streets to rent out their premises if they stand empty for more than a year.

This is a previously Tory policy first announced in May this year within part 10 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

It covered retail units and other high street premises which, once 12 months are up, can have their leases sold via High Street Rental Auctions.

The new rules will enable councils to take control of empty properties and rent them out to local businesses in a bid to increase footfall and tackle wide-ranging related issues such as increased unemployment and anti-social behaviour.

Leases will be auctioned for up to five years, with no reserve price, giving local firms and community groups the chance to occupy space on the high street at a competitive market rate.

First auctions

Under the original plans within the Tories’ levelling up agenda, the first auctions were due to start this year, but no new deadline has been given.

In response to a question from Labour MP Simon Opher on whether the policy would be continued under the new Government, housing minister Alex Norris replied that: “The Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and tackling the issue of persistent vacancy.

“To achieve this, we will implement new High Street Rental Auctions as set out in Part 10 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

“This will empower local authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants. Secondary legislation will be introduced shortly to enable local authorities to exercise this power.”