The scandal of empty homes when others are homeless

One of my AC owns 3 homes plus one jointly owned with me. He works abroad at times and at various points around the UK, so that having properties in key locations makes sense. The family would be horrified to have them 'requistioned' or made the subject of a CPO. We have all enjoyed holidays in these homes.
If you can afford to buy and maintain more than one property then the government should have no say in the matter.

I think not. My second home has not been used for the last couple of years because of our ill health but we pay full council tax, which is actually considerably more than our regular home. Letting the property has never been an option, I have seen the neglect and damage caused by uncaring tenants.

Give the homeless access to our holiday homes and caravans as well.

And to the gyms and pools to which we are fully-paid up members.

Should those who own their own homes with two or three empty bedrooms be forced to rent these rooms ?

Welshwife there is a semi two doors from me been empty since guy bought it 18 years ago. He lives elsewhere. Council empty homes officer has been informed they do nothing. This is in Knowsley Merseyside

I agree what people choose to do with their money is up to them but I don’t agree all homeless are so because of life choices

what people choose to do with their cash is up to them, ie if they have bought a house and choose not to live in it that is up to them. The same as those that choose not to pay bills and take drugs end up homeless. It is all about choice.

Why is it wrong for companies to build for profit?

Dublin has brought in a new law for landlords. They are not allowed to own lots of properties to use as Air b&b's. They have to rent them out to long term tennants. This is to help the housing shortage in the city. The only people allowed to have an Air b&b are those who have it as part of their home or on their own land.

It is wrong but there is little profit in building for people on low or hardly any income - I read that many of these luxury developments are still empty because the developers are only getting what they term as 'silly offers' for the accommodation and would rather leave them empty.

I have buy yo let and if empty you still have to pay council tax nut then you can write off cost of council tax as expense when paying income tax.

because most humans are selfish/greedy and have little concern for their fellow man, religions try to address this balance but does that work? look at the stage of religions
even amongst the laity you see all the human struggles for power etc etc

In the Channel islands if you get a state home (council in UK) they assess how many bedrooms you need. Friends of my sister had to move from 3 bed to 2 when daughter went to uni, then two years later when son went to 1 bed. They had decorated houses to high standard and put in new kitchen in 3 bed but then given shabby homes when had to swap. Maybe we should do similar as many single old people in 3 bed homes and many families with 3 kids in 2 bed flats. If I had empty home I would not want it taken over by homeless. If I did not let it it would be because I wanted it left empty. Two of my elderly aunts lived together but one still kept her own home empty just in case she fell out with sister or sometimes she just went back to clean and remember. Her house her choice. She paid all taxes due on property.

no council tax reduction here ,full payment unless the house is being renovated and has no kitchen or bathroom for 6 months .If you're buying the six month allowance might not apply if claimed by the previous owner for the same property

I believe many of the flats in the new towers in London, especially in the cheaper boroughs, are buy to let and young people rent these. They are often very small and occupied by flat sharers. At least they are warm and modern, unlike much of the older stock of private and social housing in London.

Oops........should have said my borough not my region .

No council tax reduction whatsoever for empty homes in my region .

I am against compulsory purchasing and buying of a property cannot be prevented but for second homes there should be country wide charging of full council tax. Now it is for to each council to decide to reduce council tax by up to 50% on empty properties or second homes

Yes varian, I do believe that some way to restrict the number of foreign buyers should be found. There are many empty properties in London particularly, owned by Russian or Chinese investors. Its been an easy way of such investors making huge amounts of money for doing nothing.

We need to build more social housing, that's for sure. Nonnie's point about he improvements in some of the council estates where buy to let led to positive changes in th environment is accepted. The downside of that, is that its only in sought after areas where that happens. There are many streets where buy to let soon led to private landlords buying former council houses at very low prices. One result was that former council house tenants who'd been evicted for say drug dealing, moved back in with the rent paid by housing benefit.

Anniebach's point about 2nd homes is well made. I'm not sure that compulsory purchase is the way forward but I do wonder whether its possible to ensure that houses aren't bought by wealthy outsiders as 2nd homes. I'm not sure that would be possible because locals often just can't afford the prices that have been inflated by wealthy outsiders. Maybe there needs to be some kind of scheme whereby the state buys some properties which then become social housing.

There was a tv programme gillybob, which is what brought it to my awareness.

I'm not sure about compulsory purchase but perhaps a higher council tax on lavish properties which are bought then never lived in?

Maybe councils could have the power to compulsaraly purchase properties that have been empty since they were bought, never lived in or rented out.

Do you think there should be restrictions on foreign buyers?

I think that because British homes, especially in London, have proved to be good investments, they are attractive to foreign buyers, including some whose wealth comes from dubious dealings (including corruption) in their own countries.

Some countries do have restrictions on the purchase of land or properties by foreigners. It is worrying that the lax tax regime in the UK has already attracted many shady millionaires and billionaires and the brexit brigade want to encourage that.

I think that’s a brilliant idea Jalima I believe there was a TV documentary about just such a scheme. They had to be owner occupiers too !

Some councils have the right idea - instead of demolishing rows of old houses they sell them for a nominal sum (say £1) then lend the buyers the money to renovate them.

I think they've done this in Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent and probably other areas too.

Some planning authorities have requirements that developments must include a proportion of affordable homes and/or social housing.
I’m not sure whether this includes London, and if not, why not.