Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner have unveiled fresh proposals that would hand councils powers to seize control of empty and rental properties. The scheme, disclosed during the party's conference in Liverpool this week, would allow local authorities to take possession of houses and flats.
New powers for councils
Burnham confirmed that authorities would be granted the ability to take charge of 'poor quality' rental properties where absent landlords refuse to undertake improvements. Meanwhile, Angela Rayner outlined proposals enabling councils to commandeer residential properties that have stood empty for six months or more.
Former Greater Manchester Mayor, Mr Burnham, said: "Go to almost any town across Britain, and you will see plenty of empty homes. We will give councils the power to take control of them and bring them back into the public housing stock."
Reaction from the Conservatives
Ms Rayner stated: "For those homes that sit idle and unused, we will make it easier for councils to bring these homes back into use for desperate families who need them, sweeping away Tory barriers that hampered our local leaders from taking action."
In retaliation, Conservative Party housing spokesperson Katie Lamb fired back, cautioning: "This Labour Government wants to seize your property, if they don't approve of how you're using it." She continued: "They're exacerbating the housing crisis and using it as a pretext to assault property rights. The truth is, Labour don't believe that anything you own truly belongs to you."
