Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a vacant principal residence the owner of which is obliged by a long-standing lease agreement to live as a tenant elsewhere may be subject to an Empty Dwellings Management Order. [89325]
Yvette Cooper: An unoccupied dwelling that is the principal residence of a person who is temporarily resident elsewhere is exempt from the legislation on Empty Dwelling Management Orders by virtue of exceptions in the Housing (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) (Prescribed Exceptions and Requirements (England) Order 2006. Second homes are also exempt. Where a dwelling is not exempt by virtue of the order the decision whether to make an Empty Dwelling Management Order is at the discretion of the local authority and is subject to approval by a Residential Property Tribunal.
