At a recent Islington Council meeting it was agreed that they would consult on whether to bring in landmark planning policies that would make a requirement that any new homes will have to be "lived in". It is the council's attempt to cut down on the number of new homes that have been bought as investments and are so called "buy to leave" properties, by remaining empty.

The council reports that there is an ever increasing  number of these properties, as more and more new homes are bought as investments and left empty, with many being marketed off-plan overseas. The areas most favoured are in the south of Islington within near vicinity to the City.

 

The council reports that over a third of new homes in new developments within the borough, remain empty and as with all councils they are facing housing shortages. It sees this type of practise as further exacerbating their problem.

The council has now drafted new planning measures that will ensure that all new homes would have to be "filled" by their owners or tenants. This measure is the first of its type to be considered by a council within its planning measures, to combat empty homes.

The proposals under consideration by Islington are, that any new home must be occupied for at least fourteen days in any three month period, and any new home cannot remain empty for any longer than three months.

Any owner failing to comply will be prosecuted by the Council and taken to High Court for an injunction. If the injunction is broken by an owner then they will face fines, a prison sentence or the property could be seized.

Councillor James Murray, Islington Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “In Islington, as across London, there is a desperate shortage of housing.

“It’s wrong when new homes sit there empty purely as investments, when Londoners are desperately trying to find somewhere to live.

“Our new proposals would make sure that all new homes in Islington are occupied – we want to send a message that buy-to-leave is unacceptable.”

The new planning proposals would not affect existing homes, but would be applied to new properties. Consultation on the proposal launches on Monday and runs until Friday January 30.