Second-home owners may get caught by an amendment to the Housing Bill intended to reduce the number of empty homes. Under the amendment, homeowners would be forced to rent out properties that stand empty for more than six months.

Although authorities are likely to use discretion, under the tabled amendment they would be able to take over long-term empty properties, and rent them out at an affordable rate. The council would claim its costs back and give the rest to the owner. However if renovations or improvements were necessary these would also be deducted before the owner received any money.

The amendment was tabled by Labour backbencher David Kidney (Stafford) who says that over 300,000 properties left empty for more than six months should come under the provisions.

Although the figures being used to support the amendment do not include second homes it’s likely that some second-home owners will be trapped by the provisions.

The initiative may only be used where properties are run-down, when councils would take over ‘temporary ownership’ for a minimum period - perhaps seven years – and so gain a respectable period during which rental income could be used to fund the improvements to the property.

David Kidney said the government was “sympathetic” to the plan. "I think there is widespread support in the country for making best use of the existing homes before we get on building more homes," he said.

Housing Minister Keith Hill said there was a "strong case" to legislate on empty homes. He added: "It would send out a clear message to owners that by keeping homes empty for long periods and refusing offers of assistance from local authorities, they run the risk of losing the right to make decisions about how the property is managed."