Government ministers have confirmed that Labor will force landlords of high street commercial properties to let out their premises if they have been vacant for more than a year.
This is previous Conservative policy, first announced in May this year in Part 10 of the Equalization and Recovery Act 2023. 
This applies to retailers and other high street premises that, after 12 months, are able to sell rental properties through high street rental auctions.
The new rules will allow councils to manage vacant properties and rent them out to local businesses to increase footfall and tackle a wide range of related issues such as rising unemployment and anti-social behavior.
Rental properties will be auctioned for up to five years with no reserve price, giving local businesses and community organizations the opportunity to occupy high street space at competitive market prices.
first auction
Under the Conservative Party's original plans within its Leveling Up Agenda, the first auctions were due to start this year, but no new deadline was given.
In response to a question from Labor MP Simon Overfer about whether the policy would continue under the new government, Housing Minister Alex Norris said:
“To achieve this, we will be implementing a new High Street Rental Auction as set out in Part 10 of the Leveling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
“This will allow local authorities to require landlords to rent vacant commercial properties to new tenants. Legislation will be introduced soon.”
