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<p>The Government currently has no plans to requisition empty homes that have been
used for speculation or money laundering for this specific purpose.</p><p>We are continuing
to support local authorities to encourage efficient use of our existing stock, making
best use of homes that are long-term empty to increase the supply of housing. At Autumn
Budget, we announced proposals to strengthen the powers available to local authorities
to tackle empty homes. Local authorities will be able to charge a 100 per cent council
tax premium (currently 50 per cent) to homes that have been empty for more than two
years.</p><p>This Government is also committed to preventing and reducing homelessness
in England. That is why we are aiming to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminate
it altogether by 2027. We are investing over £1.2 billion to reduce homelessness and
rough sleeping in England by 2020. This includes a £100 million programme for low-cost
move on accommodation to enable people leaving hostels and refuges to make a sustainable
recovery from a homelessness crisis into independent living.</p>
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