Right to buy puts 40% of ex-council homes in private rental – MPs’ report
I find this very disconcerting.
Forty per cent of ex-council flats sold through right to buy are being rented out more expensively by private landlords, the Commons communities and local government select committee has found.
In the committee’s report, released today, MPs expressed concerns about “unresolved issues” with the government’s proposed extension of right to buy to housing associations, and a levy on the sale of vacant council homes. It found that in some areas councils could be forced to sell up to 97% of properties upon vacancy.
The committee expressed concern that: forced council home sales will hit some councils harder (particularly in the south east), right to buy resales become low quality rented homes, starter homes could be snapped up by wealthy owners, housebuilding numbers remain a concern (without a one-for-one replacement), cuts in social rents will cost housing associations a lot of money and people who cannot afford to buy must not be forgotten.
Clive Betts, chair of the committee, said: “We are concerned that there are a number of unresolved issues with the government’s policy which could have a detrimental effect on the provision of accessible and affordable housing, particularly affordable rented property.”
The Communities and Local Government Committee 2nd report on Housing associations and the Right to Buy is available here:
NB: these findings chime with the views of delegates at the RSN planning and housing event in Northallerton this week. You can use the following link to view the presentations and outcomes from the day: