Before Margaret Thatcher became PM of Britain in 1979, very few people owned their own homes in the UK. Most rented their homes from the local council. Thatcher launched a war on local government and greatly reduced their power, in part, by offering people the right to purchase their homes. Now there is a new plan to restore some housing to council control that offers a wonderful solution to abandoned homes. Under new rules issued today, Councils could seize empty homes and lease them:
Houses left empty by owners for more than a year could be seized and leased by local authorities under new plans. Empty dwelling management orders would allow councils to seize, renovate and lease a property for up to seven years, before returning it to its owner. The plans are expected to become law in April next year. It emerged last week that almost 700,000 homes are empty in England, of which 280,000 have been deserted for more than 12 months. The government hopes to fill 25,000 empty homes by 2010.
Houses left empty by owners for more than a year could be seized and leased by local authorities under new plans. Empty dwelling management orders would allow councils to seize, renovate and lease a property for up to seven years, before returning it to its owner. The plans are expected to become law in April next year. It emerged last week that almost 700,000 homes are empty in England, of which 280,000 have been deserted for more than 12 months. The government hopes to fill 25,000 empty homes by 2010.
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