By Tony Booth

Measures now being debated by MPs could result in financial penalties being introduced for those landlords that leave their buy-to-let properties empty for long periods of time.

The Select Committee of the Communities and Local Government department has said it realises the proposal to fine landlords might discourage the volume of property investments in this sector, but it said it believed the housing shortage was a more worrying phenomenon.

The Committee has recommended that the Government must explore incentives for landlords not to leave their properties empty - particularly when this action is adopted purely as a 'fiscal measure'.

Far from finding 'incentives', the Committee seems to be suggesting penalties would be more effective. They issued a statement in which they said buy-to-leave investors that are unwilling to let their properties are 'unlikely to show much interest in doing so without the threat of some form of financial penalty.'