Councils to take over homes left empty for six months under new EDMO reforms
The government has announced reforms cutting the empty-dwelling waiting period from two years to six months, letting councils bring long-term vacant homes back into use sooner.
Councils in England will be able to take over the management of homes left empty for six months, under reforms to Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) announced by the government on Sunday (27 September).
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the changes would cut the period a property must stand empty before becoming eligible for an EDMO from two years to six months, allowing councils to act sooner and stop vacant homes falling into serious disrepair.
EDMOs let councils take over the management of long-term empty homes and return them to occupation for up to seven years while ownership remains with the property owner. The reforms will also remove evidential requirements around issues such as anti-social behaviour or community support, simplifying applications through the Residential Property Tribunal. The government said it was exploring further changes to strengthen the regime.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner unveiled the plans on the first day of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, saying: “With so many children and families still in need of a safe and secure home, we can’t sit by and allow 300,000 long-term empty dwellings to be left unused.” PA reporting notes no EDMO applications have been made since 2021.
EDMOs were introduced under the Housing Act 2004 with a six-month threshold, which was raised to two years in 2012.
Sources
- GOV.UK press release: “New reforms to bring more long-term empty homes back into use” — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-reforms-to-bring-more-long-term-empty-homes-back-into-use—2
- PA via The Oldham Times / Leigh Journal: “Councils will be given more powers to seize empty homes and bring them into use” — https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/national/26584866.councils-will-given-powers-seize-empty-homes-bring-use/
- London Construction Magazine: “47,287 London Homes Empty 6+ Months as EDMO Rules Set to Tighten” — https://www.constructionmagazine.uk/2026/09/london-empty-homes-edmo-six-month-rule-2026.html
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