Labour’s New Plan Comes Under Fire as Former Minister Speaks Out and Raises Serious Concerns Over What It Could Mean for Property Owners

Labour’s plan to help councils bring empty and rundown homes back into use has drawn criticism from former Conservative minister Tom Pursglove, who said the proposal sounded “a little bit like Communism”.

The plans described in the report would support councils in taking action over homes that have been left empty for long periods or allowed to fall into a poor condition. Angela Rayner said local authorities should make greater use of available powers to bring these properties back into use and help meet housing needs.

Rayner argued that leaving homes unused was difficult to justify when many children and families still needed somewhere safe and secure to live. She pointed to around 300,000 long-term empty homes and said these properties could play a part in tackling the housing shortage.

She said Labour wanted to give local leaders the tools to deal with derelict homes and make them suitable for people to live in again. According to Rayner, the approach would reverse changes made under the Conservatives and support councils in using powers that had not been fully used.

The proposal also includes action against landlords renting out homes in the worst condition. Labour’s stated aim is to improve housing standards while helping communities make better use of properties that are currently standing empty.

However, Pursglove strongly questioned the approach during an appearance on GB News. He said he was uncomfortable with the idea of councils taking over privately owned properties and believed there were better ways to encourage owners to bring empty homes back into use.

He suggested that councils could place greater financial pressure on owners of homes that remain empty for a long time. This could include making further use of the council tax system, rather than moving towards acquiring the properties.

Pursglove acknowledged that some measures already exist to discourage owners from leaving homes unused. However, he argued that these could potentially go further, alongside efforts to work with landlords and property owners.

He also warned against assuming that every empty home had been deliberately neglected. Properties, he said, can remain unoccupied for legitimate reasons, and those circumstances should be considered before action is taken.

His comments raised a wider concern about how the policy would be applied. The report does not explain the full process councils would follow when acquiring a property, making the details important to understanding how owners could be affected.

Pursglove also defended responsible landlords. He said many take pride in their properties, maintain them properly and want to provide good homes for their tenants. In his view, it would be unfair to treat these landlords in the same way as owners who allow housing standards to fall.

The former minister went on to argue that bringing empty properties back into use would not, by itself, solve Britain’s housing problems. He said the country had faced difficulties with housebuilding for decades, with too few new homes becoming available.

He also linked housing demand to immigration, arguing that people arriving in the country added to pressure on homes, public services and infrastructure. He defended the previous Conservative government’s efforts to reduce visa numbers and claimed that Labour was taking credit for changes introduced before it came to power.

Pursglove said reducing that pressure had been one of the reasons behind the immigration measures he helped introduce during his final months in government.

The disagreement centres on how far councils should go when dealing with empty and poor-quality housing. Rayner argued that stronger action could help families who need a home, while Pursglove favoured financial penalties and cooperation with property owners.

For those affected, the practical details would matter: which properties would qualify, how owners’ circumstances would be considered, and how homes brought back into use would help meet local demand.