Angela Rayner warns councils will seize empty privately-owned houses... after emotional thanks to Labour members for support after second home tax row

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:15 EDT, 29 September 2026 | Updated: 07:29 EDT, 29 September 2026 Angela Rayner defiantly warned that councils are coming for privately-owned homes today – after thanking Labour members for their support during her own housing crisis.The Housing Secretary praised new stronger powers for local authorities to seize empty properties to ease homelessness as she addressed the party conference in Liverpool.Ms Rayner unveiled plans earlier this week to reform Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) to allow councils to seize properties vacant for more than six months.She told delegates: 'For those homes that sit idle and unused, we will make it easier for councils to bring these homes back into use for desperate families who need them.'Sweeping away Tory barriers that hampered our local leaders from taking action.'Her speech was her first at the event in two years, having been forced to quit Keir Starmer's cabinet shortly before the 2025 conference for failing to pay a £40,000 stamp duty bill on a holiday home more than 200 miles from her constituency.Arriving on stage to an ovation, she made a footballer-style heart shape with her hands before saying: 'I don't cry often, but nearly. So good to be back. It's good to be back at conference, back in Government, and back here in Liverpool.' The Housing Secretary praised new stronger powers for local authorities to seize empty properties to ease homelessness as she addressed the party conference in LiverpoolHer speech was her first at the event in two years, having been forced to quit Keir Starmer's cabinet shortly before the 2025 conference for failing to pay a £40,000 stamp duty bill on a holiday home more than 200 miles from her constituencyThe Housing Secretary revealed the plans on the first day of Labour's annual conference, with the aim of bringing the 300,000 empty homes across England back into use.The sweeping reforms to EDMOs are being made as the Government aims to build 1.5 million homes before its self-imposed deadline of 2029.EDMOs can be used to restore homes for use for an initial 12 months, and up to a total of eight years, but no applications have been made since 2021.Ms Rayner's plans will reduce the period of time a house must be empty before it can be taken over from two years to six months.Ministers also aim to speed up the backroom process which allows councils to seize properties through a tribunal system, and want to protect local authorities from absorbing the costs associated with using EDMOs.Tory shadow housing secretary Katie Lamb said: 'This Labour Government wants to seize your property, if they don't approve of how you're using it. Ms Rayner also warned landlords that more action was coming on leasehold reform, branding it 'unfinished business', as she pledged to place a cap on administration fees'They're making the housing crisis worse and using it as an excuse to attack property rights. 'The truth is, Labour don't think that anything you own really belongs to you.'Ms Rayner also warned landlords that more action was coming on leasehold reform, branding it 'unfinished business', as she pledged to place a cap on administration fees.She also set out plans for an independent licensing system for estate agents, letting agents and property management agents, warning that buyers are being 'undermined and undercut by far too many cowboys, crooks and con artists'. Ms Rayner appeared emotional as she opened her speech. She said: 'I want to start by saying a big thank you to everyone here. Your work got us into government, we wouldn't be here without you, and I certainly wouldn't be here without you.'The support received from so many people here over the last year has meant so much to me personally.'The Labour movement is a family to me, and that's the thing about our movement, we are here not just for ourselves, but we're here for each other. And you've been there for me, and I'm here for you.'