CLA lobbying victory on council seizures of private property

A law allowing councils to seize private homes left empty for more than six months is set to be changed after CLA lobbying on the issue.

The Government is now proposing to relax the legislation so that empty properties need to have been empty for two years before councils can use these draconian powers.

CLA President William Worsley said: This is an excellent example of strong CLA lobbying paying off to improve a bad law that was clearly unjust to property-owners.

Provided the prescribed exceptions to the six months / two years rule remain in force, members can rest assured that there is less scope now for state interference with the management of their properties. We are pleased the Government is following our advice.

• The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has around 35,000 members.
• As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
• We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.
• For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/CLAtweets