Plans to force owners to rent out empty homes (UK)

Homeowners would be forced to rent out properties that have stood empty for more than six months under proposals unveiled today.

Under an amendment to the housing bill, tabled by Labour backbencher David Kidney MP, councils would be able to take over such properties, restore them to a decent standard and rent them out at an affordable rate. The council could claim its costs back and give the rest to the owner.

Some 750,000 homes are standing empty in the UK at any one time. Mr Kidney's plans would cover the 300,000 homes left unoccupied for more than six months. He claimed that the government was sympathetic to the plan.

"I think there is widespread support in the country for making best use of the existing homes before we get on building more homes," he told the Today programme. "I think people would scratch their heads at the thought that somebody would be annoyed at receiving rent for an empty property."

A spokeswoman for the National Housing Federation (NHF) applauded the new proposal. "Measures that seek to address the chronic shortage of affordable homes are to be welcomed," she said. "This would free up homes that are standing empty for a long time for much-needed affordable renting."

But Alistair McIntosh, chief executive of the Housing Quality Network, was dismissive of Mr Kidney's plans. "Any moves to increase the supply of rented houses are welcome but we do not think this one will work," he said. "It doesn't take account of circumstances such as people going into care or the poor condition of many properties."

Mr McIntosh said there were other options available to reduce the number of empty houses. The 2003 Local Government Act gives councils the power to increase council tax on long-term empty properties. In addition, the planning and compulsory purchase order bill - which is currently going through parliament - will make it easier for councils to buy long term empty or neglected properties. "We think these are more practical ways forward," said Mr McIntosh.

Force, coercion, and expropriation. How readily these concepts come to a government which has defanged its population.

Why not offer the fix-up, and allow the home-owners choice about the matter? If they can't afford the repairs, or choose not to surrender their property to strangers, why need this be a government mandate?

Because force and intimidation work more quickly. People may "own" property, but these governments "own" the people. They NEED a second amendment. And a few others.

Under commusism, there is no private property...

I could be wrong and likely am but I believe in the UK that private property didn't really exist.

All land was owned by the crown who parceled it out to nobles and so forth but the ultimate power remained with the crown. They gave it to you and they could take it away. There were a few exceptions, London had it's own charter I believe giving the city special rights but in most cases people leased rather then owning.

Not sure how that foundation affected the current laws and attitude toward property but I do know that owning land there is quite different then owning it in the US.

Homeowners would be forced to rent out properties that have stood empty for more than six months(England).

Brazil expropriates agricultural land that is not being used productively---The government will give us the resources for the infrastructure to take care of a modern farm," said Celsino Rocha, 66. "Lula's is one of the best governments we've ever had," said Cicero Ribas, 62. "We'll get land."(Brazil)

The government plans to hand 5 million acres of idle, state-owned land to as many as 100,000 families.Mr. Chavez's program drew fierce resistance from landowners and business groups. "They're going after the best ranches — not idle land." "There are signs that the distribution of land in Venezuela is finally being democratized," Mr. Alvarado said of the human-rights group in Caracas. "But we have yet to see if the government will continue to follow through with credits, tractors and the technical support necessary to make this land reform work."(Venezuela)

The Ministry's statement, issued by its Liaison Officer, Chrispin Matongela, said expropriation of farms would be based on "excessive, under-utilised and abandoned land".It is the first time Government has clearly stated that expropriation will be used as a punitive measure. Government has denied that it has already identified eight white-owned farms, from where labourers had been dismissed and evicted, as being the first to be identified for expropriation.(Namibia's land reform)

Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says should it win power, it would not return land to evicted white farmers. Land reform without the issue of food security is not land reform. Mugabe was now in the "mop-up phase" of his land reform policy that has seen the often violent seizure of about 5,000 white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks. Nelson Samkange has demanded that all white commercial farmers still on their properties in the province explain why they should be spared from eviction.(Zimbabwe)

Who will be next? When will you be evicted?(Next)

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