Councils will be given stronger powers to take over empty properties to provide housing for those in need, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has announced.

The policy, unveiled on Sunday ahead of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, is intended to make it easier for local authorities to bring some of England's more than 300,000 vacant dwellings into use. Ms Rayner said the government would also look at changes to protect councils from the costs of taking over these properties.

The move comes alongside the government's "Your First Home" scheme, announced on Saturday by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which will allow first-time buyers in England to purchase a new-build property with a deposit of just 2.5%.

Under that policy, the government will offer eligible buyers a 20% equity loan with an initial interest-free period. Full operational details are expected in next month's Budget.

Mr Burnham said the scheme was aimed at people who lack financial support from the "bank of mum and dad", arguing it would help those struggling with housing costs while giving developers confidence to build. The initiative will be funded by reprioritising existing departmental budgets, with developers contributing towards running costs.

Ministers have not yet confirmed whether the buyer scheme will include an upper age limit or a cap on property purchase prices.

The Home Builders Federation welcomed the equity loan policy, saying a well-designed scheme could make a meaningful difference to home ownership. However, the Conservatives criticised the measure, warning it could leave buyers taking on excessive debt and risk pushing up new-build prices.

The equity loan policy is similar to the 2013 Help to Buy scheme, which ran until 2023 and required a 5% deposit. I will be watching next month's Budget closely for the remaining eligibility criteria, rollout dates and further details on local authority funding.