Pickles Acts to Protect the Rights of Homeowners

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is bringing an end to rules that can mean people who leave their house empty for more than six months risk having it seized by their local authority. In 2006, the previous Government introduced 'Empty Dwelling Management Orders'. They allow councils to take over properties that have been empty for as little as six months. In order to protect civil liberties, Mr Pickles is today introducing powerful safeguards to restrict the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders.
* they will be limited to empty properties that have become magnets for vandalism, squatters and other forms of anti-social behaviour - blighting the local neighbourhood
* a property will have to stand empty for at least two years before an Empty Dwelling Management Order can be obtained, and property owners will have to be given at least three months' notice before the order can be issued.
Mr Pickles is concerned that councils have used the Orders to instigate action against homeowners that is inappropriate, including against people in vulnerable situations. Read more on the CLG website.