# Shorter wait before councils take over empty homes

> “We will reduce the qualifying period from two years to six months and remove evidential requirements relating to matters such as anti-social behaviour or community support.”
>
> — Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Labour Party; Written ministerial statement, 12 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Housing & environment](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/housing-and-environment)
- **Speaker:** [Matthew Pennycook](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/matthew-pennycook), Minister of State for Housing and Planning
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 12 October 2026
- **Where:** Written ministerial statement
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Councils in England, owners of long-term empty homes, and people looking for a home
- **When:** Not stated
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-12/HCWS363 (checked word for word on 13 October 2026; Open Parliament Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 13 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-empty-homes-orders-2026

## Where it stands

Announced on 27 September 2026. An Empty Dwelling Management Order lets a council manage a long-term empty home and bring it back into use for up to seven years, while the owner keeps it. The change would shorten how long a home must be empty before a council can apply. The statement does not say how or when it will be made.

## Timeline

- 12 October 2026, Promised: The Housing Minister says the qualifying period for Empty Dwelling Management Orders will be cut from two years to six months

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Written ministerial statement HCWS363, 12 Oct 2026: Improving housing availability and affordability](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-10-12/HCWS363)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 13 October 2026.

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