Plans to grant councils stronger powers to address empty homes are being scrutinised due to concerns over the potential cost of repairs. The government intends to reform Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), which would enable councils to intervene after a property has been vacant for six months, a reduction from the current two-year period.
Elliot Castle, CEO of We Buy Any Home, supports the initiative to bring empty properties back into use. However, he argues that many of the estimated 300,000 empty homes nationwide require substantial refurbishment to become habitable. Castle estimates that more than 150,000 of these properties are currently uninhabitable.
Castle has questioned how local authorities, which he claims are already struggling financially, would afford to make these neglected properties fit for rent. He suggested that financial grants could be a more practical approach to address the issue.