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The UK Housing Department is proposing changes to the Right to Buy policy which would prevent more social housing tenants from purchasing their own homes. The new legislation would require tenants to wait more than ten years before buying their homes, while those living in newly built social homes may never be granted the opportunity to purchase. Additionally, incentives to discourage social tenants from selling their previously purchased homes are expected to be put into place. The new Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, claims the changes are necessary to address the loss of social housing units, while the Conservatives argue that the new policies limit aspiration and social mobility.
The Right to Buy policy was first introduced in 1980 and has been responsible for a net loss in social housing stock almost every year since. There are currently 1.4 million fewer households in social housing units in England than there were in 1980, according to Shelter’s analysis. The new policies, which aim to increase the minimum time a tenant lives in their social home before purchasing, may aid in slowing the rate at which social housing units are depleted. Furthermore, a ban on tenants purchasing any newly-built social housing is under consideration.
The new legislation proposes safeguarding newly built social housing for at least ten to thirty years. The Right to Buy discounts are also to be cut back, mirroring pre-2012 levels. Current rules dictate that tenants using Right to Buy must repay their discounts to the council if they sell the property within five years of purchase, but the government is proposing an extension of this time period to ten years. Earlier this year, the government had announced other changes to Right to Buy policy in the Budget, allowing councils to use the funds acquired from a Right to Buy sale for new social housing construction, rather than just half.
Labour’s reforms for Right to Buy are not favoured by all. Shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake indicated that the policies would limit ‘aspiration and social mobility’ through the denial of home ownership. He stated that Right to Buy had assisted millions of UK renters in establishing property ownership. The Chief Executive of Shelter, Polly Neate, confirmed that Right to Buy reform was crucial, but not comprehensive enough. She added that the reforms must be supported with serious financial investments for social home improvement. Secretary Rayner has stated that social housing is the government’s foremost priority, seeking to develop the largest wave of council housing in a generation.
Some housing experts have called for a more drastic overhaul of the Help to Buy policy. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has suggested suspending the system, while others have proposed scrapping the system entirely. The proposed changes to Right to Buy policy are attempting to address the significant loss of social housing units in the UK and mitigate the crisis. Slow, progressive steps to address the root concerns surrounding housing investments and protections are necessary
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