Esther McVey has condemned Angela Rayner's announcement giving the state power to confiscate private property left unoccupied for six months, calling it one of the most outrageous authoritarian overreaches by a British government ever. Writing in the Daily Express, the former minister described the policy as "literally legalised theft" and criticised the left-wing media for failing to protest against it.
State surveillance of homes
McVey warned that local councils will deploy "Empty Homes Officers" who will spy on properties, checking mail, taking photos, and obtaining water and energy usage data to build a case on whether someone has been living there. If the state seizes a property, rental payments will go directly to the council, which can use them for repairs, building works, and health-and-safety upgrades, with any leftover money going to the owner.
Seven-year confiscation and mortgage risks
The state will be able to confiscate properties for seven years. Owners will still be responsible for paying mortgages even without income, and councils will not cover mortgage payments. If a default occurs, the bank can repossess the property, potentially leaving the owner with nothing. Additionally, if a council-found tenant stops paying rent, the council cannot evict them due to full legal tenancy rights, leaving owners with fewer rights than non-paying tenants.
McVey noted that people may have empty properties for complex reasons, such as a parent's death, divorce, or plans to renovate. She also pointed out that the Housing Secretary divides her time across three accommodations and suggested the state will not seek to seize her property, concluding that in this "socialist nightmare," some are always more equal than others.
