About high street rental auctions (HRSAs)
High street rental auctions (HSRAs) provide us with new tools to bring back into use long-term vacant properties in our high streets. Under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, HSRAs enable us to work proactively with landlords to encourage revival and renewal of our local high streets.
Through HSRAs, we can auction leases to bring long-term vacant units back into productive use, supporting business growth and community activity. These auctions allow local businesses, charities, and community groups to bid for a tenancy at market rent, creating new opportunities for enterprise and increasing footfall on underperforming high streets.
Further information regarding the government’s proposed use of HSRA can be found in the government guidance.
Limitations
HSRAs will not remove long term control of the property from the landlord as tenancy agreements through this process are time limited. Government guidance is clear that councils should work proactively with landlords to find constructive solutions to long term vacancies. HSRA powers should only be applied where landlords fail to engage with the council and/or a landlord’s existing approach has not resulted in occupancy.
Timelines
The government has set out a clear pathway for councils to follow, both before and during any potential auction. We've already started work on the actions required before any auction can take place.
May 2026
Work started on identifying potential HSRA eligible properties and building a vacancy register.
17 February 2026
Executive Committee made a decision to support the use of HSRA powers within the designated high street areas (link to designated area web page)
23 November 2025
Completion of a 90-day public consultation of the designated high street areas for 9 town centres in Central Bedfordshire.
Our focus is to engage with landlords to develop mutually beneficially solutions. This is a key element of a multi-stage process, which will take many months before reaching an auction due to preparatory work and statutory notice periods.