Southwark Labour Fails to Use Empty Homes Powers in Last Five Years

Southwark Labour failed to use key enforcement powers to bring empty homes back into use in the last five years, Liberal Democrat research revealed on Monday.

The Southwark Liberal Democrat Group’s internal enquiries divulged that the council has used zero Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) on empty homes in the past five years.

Southwark Council said it would take a zero tolerance approach to empty homes in its draft action plan on the topic.

This stance included using the aforementioned enforcement actions to bring these properties back to use.

Commenting, Cllr Hamish McCallum, Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader said:

“Enough is enough: Southwark Labour’s housing policy in the past decade has been a failure and it is only getting worse. With over 16,000 households on its housing waiting list and a soaring number of empty properties, it is scandalous that the council is not fully using the powers it has to stem this tide.”