Local authorities will get new powers next month to force landlords to rent out persistently empty high street properties.
Introduced in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the high street rental auction powers will enable councils to auction one to five year leases of vacant city, town or village centre properties.
The site must have been empty for more than 365 days in a two-year period, and the local authority must first attempt to work with the landlord to fill the vacancy.
Local growth minister Alex Norris said: ‘High streets are the beating heart of our communities. But for too long, too many have been neglected, with more and more empty lots and boarded up shopfronts.
‘We are giving local councils the tools to take back control.
‘High street rental auctions will put local communities first, re-energising town centres and driving local opportunities and growth.’
At a showcase event in Wolverhampton next week, more detail will be provided and ‘early adopter’ councils will be introduced, who will take immediate action and work with the Government to provide guidance to other local authorities.
Secondary legislation laid yesterday means the powers will come into force on 2 December.
