The District Councils’ Network has called for tomorrow’s King’s Speech to prioritise the reform of Right to Buy.
This news comes as the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government publishes figures outlining how, over the course of the last year, more than 6,00 council homes in England have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme – only half of which have been replaced. This need is also set against the backdrop of a sharp increase in demand, with a 17% rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation and social housing waiting lists increasing by 13% since 2020.
With this in mind, the DCN has called for reforms to Right to Buy, including:
- Allowing councils to retain 100% of Right to Buy receipts to spend on replacements
- Bringing in a ‘Right to Pause’ on sales for councils that face extreme housing pressures
- Empowering councils to set Right to Buy rates that reflect the market conditions
- Protecting newly built council homes from being sold under the Scheme
DCN Spokesperson for Housing, Cllr Hannah Dalton, said:
“This data lays bare the perfect storm facing our communities – as demand for social housing and temporary accommodation surges, councils are losing valuable social housing to Right to Buy faster than we can replace it. We simply cannot continue down this path if we are to continue down this path if we are to ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.
“District councils are doing all we can to tackle homelessness and build more social and affordable homes. But our hands are tied behind our backs. We are calling on the government to give councils much more flexibility over Right to Buy so that they can reinvest 100% of sales receipts in new council housing, protect newly built council homes from being sold and temporarily pause Right to Buy if they face extreme local housing pressures.”
The DCN made further recommendations on how councils can see their housing boosted through the organisation’s Housing and Planning Prospectus. These recommendations include the creation of a new capital fund to support housebuilding, boosting the Homelessness Prevention Grant, and streamlining funding into one single pot.
Councillor Dalton continued:
“These reforms, alongside a significant boost in funding for social housebuilding, are essential if we are to turn the tide and start restoring the supply of council homes that our communities so desperately need. District councils stand ready to work in partnership with government to deliver on this critical priority – but time is of the essence.”
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