IEA Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz was quoted in BBC News on Westminster council’s suggestion they should take control over vacant homes.

The article said:

“Homes that have sat vacant for more than six months should be brought into the control of the local authority, a central London council has said.

“Westminster City Council is calling on the government to change the law and make it easier for them to issue Empty Management Dwelling Orders which allow the council to bring empty private sector properties back into use.

“It said at least 11,000 properties in the borough were unoccupied and many had been for several years…

“Dr Kristian Niemietz, editorial director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The issue is that we haven’t been building enough houses for more than 40 years.

“Westminster Council, like many other councils, is just trying to distract from that.”

Read the full article here.