Councils will be allowed to take over homes left empty for six months
Key Points
- Councils can seek an EDMO after a home sits empty for six months
- The previous threshold required homes to be empty for two years
- EDMOs let councils manage and let empty homes for up to seven years
- Owners keep ownership of the property during an EDMO
- Councils no longer need evidence of anti-social behaviour to apply
Councils in England will be able to take over homes left empty for six months under new government reforms.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced changes to Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) on Sunday (27 September). The department said the reforms will help councils bring more long-term empty homes back into use.
EDMOs allow a council to take over the management of an empty home and return it to occupation for up to seven years. The property owner keeps ownership of the home throughout that period.
The reforms cut the time a property must stand empty before it qualifies for an EDMO from two years to six months. MHCLG said this will let councils act sooner and stop vacant homes from falling into serious disrepair.
The government will also remove several evidential requirements from the application process. Councils will no longer need to show evidence of issues such as anti-social behaviour or community support for intervention.
Local authorities apply for EDMOs through the Residential Property Tribunal. MHCLG said the changes will make it simpler for councils to secure an order.
The government is exploring further changes to strengthen the EDMO regime. MHCLG said it wants councils to use the powers more effectively.
EDMOs first came into force under the Housing Act 2004 with a six-month threshold. The government raised the threshold to two years in 2012.
