Proposed legislation changes could place Stafford's 'neglectful landlords' in hot water

By Livia Gregor 27th Oct 2026

Local News by Livia Gregor 1 hour ago

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham has made a positive step forward in her campaign to save the town's neglected buildings.

On 16 October, Ingham secured a Ten Minute Rule Bill slot in Parliament for her campaign to reform Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Last month, Ingham launched her No Reward for Neglect campaign to highlight the damage caused by neglectful landlords and push for changes to the way legal costs are handled when councils seek a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

Currently, local authorities are generally required to meet the legal and professional fees of the very owners whose neglect has made compulsory purchase necessary in the first place.

In situations when an owner has deliberately allowed a building to fall into ruin, there is presently no financial incentive for them to maintain the upkeep of their building and instead places the entire cost burden on already stretched local authorities.

Ingham's Ten Minute Rule Bill will be presented to Parliament on 11 November to make her case for a new Bill surrounding changes to the current legislation.

Speaking about the campaign, Ingham said "I think it is time to put an end to neglected buildings in our town centres and communities.

"If successful, this Bill will remove a barrier that our councils face when trying to take positive action to improve our high streets and neighbourhoods.