After research by the BBC revealed that seven London boroughs were not using the Empty Homes Premium (see story here), Ed Miliband has pledged to raise the Empty Homes Premium to 100% in England, if elected, matching the approach already being taken in Wales and Scotland. A recent mention of the same policy initiative by Emma Reynolds confirms that this is now the Labour position.
The London Boroughs not using the power were named as Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Bromley, Havering, Hillingdon, Kingston-upon-Thames and Merton. The cabinet member for housing for Westminster, Daniel Astaire, spoke to the BBC and offered probably the most supine view on empty homes ever to be heard: "Privately owned property is owned for a number of reasons by a number of people and it's not our part to interfere." Homeless people in Westminster will be thrilled to hear top local politicians promising that no stone will be left unturned in the effort to ignore empty property.
It will also be an astonishing message for the many Conservative councils that are amongst the leading authorities in tackling empties, such as Kent and Cheshire West. However, there is at least an element of truth in Astaire's remark that "we don't think this [the premium] will make any meaningful difference in the city" - a piffling 50% on top of an already low council tax is hardly likely to strike terror into the hearts of the international bourgeoisie and assorted jet-setters who flock to purchase properties in central London, hence Boris Johnson's widely-reported call for up to 1000% premium in some circumstances.
Anecdotally, based on feedback from practitioners around the country, the Empty Homes Premium has been effective in getting owners of long-term empties to engage: many have been helped to bring their homes back into use after contacting local councils.
For a less up-to-date but much fuller picture of Empty Homes Premium across the whole of England EHN members can refer to our news story, which is based on CTB returns in October 2013. Subsequently further authorities may have introduced the Premium in April 2014 - we'll find out when the 2014 CTB returns are published. To view the associated spreadsheet, you'll need to be logged in as a full member.