Islington council has begun steps to halt buy-to-leave purchases in the borough.
The London borough’s council is aiming to enact new planning policies that would allow the council to take out injunctions against homeowners if properties are left uninhabited for longer than three months. Under the proposals, houses would need to be inhabited for at least two weeks in every three months.
Breaking the injunction could lead to a fine, prison, and even seizure of the empty property.
It is estimated as many as a third of homes in some new developments in Islington are vacant.
The new planning proposals would not affect existing homes.
Counsellor James Murray, Islington council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “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.”
