LGA calls for Right to Buy reforms

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for further reforms of Right to Buy to ensure sustainability of social housing stock.

The LGA is urging government to go further with its reforms of Right to Buy (RTB) to give local authorities more flexibility and control over how the scheme operates locally.

The call comes amid rising demand to buy homes through the scheme since discount changes in the Autumn Budget.

More than 123,000 households are in temporary accommodation and more than 1.33 million households on a social housing waiting list, there is a chronic shortage of social housing. Local authorities are not able to replace homes as quickly as they are being sold.

In its response to the Government's consultation on Right to Buy, the LGA recognises that the Government has taken on board the key concerns of councils on the scheme but urges government to go further to ensure that it is fit for purpose and does not hinder the development of good quality, sustainable social housing stock.

The reforms should giving local authorities the control, power and flexibilities to shape the RTB scheme to best serve their local housing market and residents’ needs; with the power to set the discount rate, exempt newly built properties in perpetuity and protect their investment in retrofitting or improving their existing stock.

Cllr Adam Hug, LGA housing spokesperson said: "We are pleased with the steps the Government has taken so far, but we urge further reform to ensure local authorities can properly manage the RTB scheme and address the chronic shortage of social housing.

"It is crucial that local authorities are given the power to shape the scheme to fit the needs of their communities.

“Councils want to work with government to deliver the social homes our communities need and help relieve the financial this shortage is placing on councils, and further RTB reform is a crucial way to do this.”