Housing reforms: bringing empty properties back into use

In the Queen's Speech on 10 May 2022, the government announced it would bring forward legislation to reform the private rented sector, with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and a Renters Reform Bill enabling local authorities to double the council tax on used and second homes.

The measures include raising taxes and local authorities being legally allowed to force landlords to rent out their empty properties through auctions. This is due to the number of unoccupied homes and the government's annual target of building 300,000 homes.

Levelling Up

The current mission of levelling up is to, by 2030, half the number of non-decent homes and create a fairer and more effective rental market for tenants and landlords. The government also stated that they would apply a legally binding Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector. 

The plan is to make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their lease or buy their freehold, as well as manage their building. 

A second Economic Crime Bill is also in action to further strengthen powers to combat illicit finance, aid business growth, and reduce crime. 

Renters Reform Bill

The main proposals include:

• Scrapping section 21 'no-fault' evictions
• Creating a national landlord register
• Giving local authorities more power to enforce and protect renters' rights

The Queen's Speech stated that the government had introduced restrictions on buy-to-let investors evicting their tenants. 

As part of this, the government has pledged to ban Section 21 'no fault' evictions, protecting tenants from unscrupulous landlords while strengthening landlords' legitimate grounds for taking back their property.

Notice periods will also be reduced for anti-social behaviour, and a new ombudsman has been finalised for private landlords to enable disputes to be handled outside of court.

Other measures include increasing fines and bans on rogue landlords and introducing a new property portal detailing landlords' obligations.

The government also aims to give residents more involvement in the local authority and provide more fair and transparent issues in the leasehold market. 

Planning Bill

In addition to the commitments in the Levelling Up white paper, the government has focused another bill to replace the 1947 Planning Bill. 

The new aims of this bill are to make improvements by modernising the planning system. 

Thus far, the current aims proposed are to ensure homes and infrastructure are delivered more quickly across England, for the planning system to be "more efficient and easier to use", and help provide vital infrastructure whilst assessing environmental impacts. 

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SO Legal has experienced solicitors and conveyancers in Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, London and Uckfield, and we work with clients across the UK.