Agents warn against council plan to seize homes empty for six months 

Propertymark has raised concerns about Westminster council’s proposal to shorten the time required for Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) from two years to six months. EDMOs allow councils to temporarily take control of long-vacant homes, refurbish them, and rent them out, with proceeds (minus costs) returned to owners. Propertymark emphasizes the need for approaches that are fair, transparent, and provide property owners with voluntary options before enforcement. Westminster council, led by Labour, argues that urgent action is needed to address over 1,500 empty homes in the borough and ease housing supply pressures. The proposal aims to encourage quicker use, sale, or rental of vacant properties.