Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing (a) mechanisms and (b) funding available to local authorities to utilise empty homes to help reduce (i) homelessness and (ii) local housing demand.

We want to encourage empty homes back into use, and empower local leaders to invest in their communities. Local authorities already have many powers and strong incentives to tackle empty homes and it is right that local leaders decide how to use those tools to meet local housing needs. It is for local authorities to decide when to use their powers to deal with empty properties, and they have the flexibility to focus on locally determined priorities and allocate their resources accordingly.

Through the New Homes Bonus, local authorities receive the same level of reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new home. Billing authorities in England also have the power to charge up to 100% extra council tax - on top of the standard bill - on properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for at least two years, up to 200% extra on properties that have been empty for at least five years, and up to 300% extra on properties that have been empty for at least 10 years.