How Big Issue inspired government to bring empty homes back into use

Local councils will be able to take quicker action to bring empty homes back into use after the government took action following Big Issue campaigning.

Ministers recently announced reforms to empty dwelling management orders (EDMOs) allowing councils to take over the management of long-term empty homes for up to seven years while ownership remains with the property owner.

Previously, local authorities had to wait until a property was empty for two years before they could take action. Labour reforms will cut that period to six months.

Big Issue has been campaigning for a national empty homes strategy this year, working with Resonance, the Empty Homes Network and others. 

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird submitted an amendment to the Social Housing Bill during its passage through the House of Lords, calling for properties to be eligible for EDMOs after six months.

Read more:

• Labour urged to come up with plan to fill 300,000 empty homes to tackle homelessness
• Half a million empty homes are ‘hiding in plain sight’. Here’s how to unlock them
• Letters: Repeal squatting laws. The crime is leaving homes empty, not their occupation 

Lord Bird has “greatly welcomed” the government’s move but warned its success will come down to “how the changes are implemented”.

“We are delighted that the government has listened to our call and agreed to act,” he added.

EDMOs were first introduced back in 2006. They allow local authorities to take control of an empty property, renovate it and rent it out without taking ownership.

Control of the property returned to the owner after seven years. In the meantime, rental income from a property managed under an EDMO went to the owner, who remained responsible for the mortgage.

Initially, EDMOs could be applied after a home was empty for six months but the Conservative-Liberal Democrats coalition government tightened eligibility in 2012.

That meant a home would have to be empty for two years to qualify and evidence of anti-social behaviour at the property was also required.

The Labour reforms will revert the change while ministers said they are exploring further changes to strengthen the councils’ ability to take action on empty homes.

Lord Bird led a House of Lords debate on introducing a national empty homes strategy to bring more than 300,000 long-term empty homes in England back into use last month.

The Big Issue founder argued that empty homes represented a “completely wasted resource”.

However, Baroness Sharon Taylor, representing the government in the debate, said “empowering and encouraging councils” to act alongside national powers and funding was the government’s preferred approach rather than a “one-size-fits-all national strategy”.

Daniel Brewer, CEO of social impact property fund manager Resonance, said the government’s action since was welcome but “alone is not enough”. 

“It must be part of a much wider strategy to make it easier to breathe new life into unused buildings to help solve the housing crisis,” said Brewer.

“Although this is a welcome change, the government must go further. We continue to call for a national empty homes strategy that demonstrates leadership from central government and gives local authorities the support they need.

“The strategy should include an additional £2 billion of ringfenced funding for councils to bring empty homes under local authority control and return them to use as low-cost rental accommodation.”

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