Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017
Public bill · Private Member · Introduced
The proposal would put much stronger pressure on owners to deal with empty or neglected land and buildings by raising charges on derelict and vacant sites, making the public registers easier to see online, and bringing vacant-site rules into force sooner. It also widens the type of land covered, lets local authorities buy neglected or empty sites for housing, and gives extra protection to older homeowners who have gone into residential care. In addition, it aims to protect tenants in buy-to-let homes from losing their tenancy just because the property has an investment mortgage.
Formal long title
Bill entitled an Act to amend the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to increase the levy placed on derelict sites; to ensure the register of derelict sites compiled by a local authority is made publicly available on the local authority's website; to ensure protection for the rights of older homeowners who have moved into residential care and own a derelict site; to amend the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 to extend the definition of a "vacant site" to include sites below 0.05 hectares; to bring into operation the entering of vacant sites on local authority registers starting June 2017; to ensure the notification of owners of vacant sites of their entry on the register by 2017; to secure payment of the vacant levy by those on the register from 2017 and payment of arrears no later than 2018; to increase the vacant site levy; to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to secure the rights of tenants in buy-to-let properties; and to provide for related matters
Last updated 12 April 2018
- First StageSeanad
- Second StageSeanad Defeated
- Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: Second Stage Seanad
- Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017: First Stage Seanad