Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's proposed overhaul of Margaret Thatcher's landmark Right to Buy scheme is poised to significantly reduce access for council tenants. According to the Resolution Foundation, the reforms could strip 500,000 tenants of their eligibility to purchase their homes under the discount program.  

 

First introduced in 1980 by Margaret Thatcher, Right to Buy allowed millions of council tenants to purchase their homes at reduced rates, helping more than two million households enter homeownership. Among those who benefited was Rayner herself, who bought her council house in 2007 with a 25 percent discount. Now, she seeks to preserve Britain’s dwindling social housing stock by tightening the scheme’s requirements.  

 

The proposed reforms would extend the required residency period from three years to ten years before tenants can access the scheme, while also reducing the discounts available. A public consultation on these changes is expected to conclude on Wednesday. If implemented, the Resolution Foundation warns that half a million tenants will lose access to the scheme, effectively marking "the end of Right to Buy."  

 

Cara Pacitti, an analyst at the Resolution Foundation, emphasized the gravity of the shift, stating, "New restrictions being proposed by the Government will effectively mark the end of Right to Buy. But the job of replenishing Britain’s affordable housing stock has only just begun."  

 

While these changes aim to maintain the levels of social housing, the reforms face criticism for falling short of addressing England’s housing crisis. Many tenants eligible under the current system already struggle to afford their homes, with nearly half of the 500,000 tenants now facing exclusion living below the poverty line.  

 

The Resolution Foundation estimates that £15 billion would be required to build the 125,000 homes needed to house families currently living in temporary accommodation in England. To restore affordable housing levels to their 2010 share of the population, Rayner would need to construct an additional 400,000 homes, which could cost up to £50 billion.  

 

The Right to Buy scheme has long faced scrutiny for contributing to the depletion of England’s social housing stock. Homes sold under the program have not been replaced at the rate they were purchased, leading to a severe shortage of affordable housing. The proposed reforms, while aiming to protect remaining stock, highlight the broader challenges of meeting the demand for affordable homes.  

 

As Rayner’s government pushes forward with these reforms, the question remains whether these measures will be sufficient to tackle the chronic shortages and affordability issues plaguing the housing sector.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-01-16

 

 

Makes sense, selling public housing at a time when there is a shortage of public housing is a ludicrous idea.

 

 

She needs the housing for all the immigrants.

 

Besides, she already bought hers. She wouldn't want others to get the same benefit that she did. 

 

A nasty piece of work. 

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

She needs the housing for all the immigrants.

 

Besides, she already bought hers. She wouldn't want others to get the same benefit that she did. 

 

A nasty piece of work. 

A bit like an immigrant obsessed with hatred of other immigrants.

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A bit like an immigrant obsessed with hatred of other immigrants.

 

I'd say she's more like a Lefty troll who spends their life on here promoting racist/sexist agendas like DEI and anti-semitism. 

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I'd say she's more like a Lefty troll who spends their life on here promoting racist/sexist agendas like DEI and anti-semitism. 

She’s a Government Minister.

 

Some troll themselves with their own ‘salty’ reaction to this fact they can’t get over.

 

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

She’s a Government Minister.

 

Some troll themselves with their own ‘salty’ reaction to this fact they can’t get over.

 

 

So was Tulip Sadiq until she had to resign a few days ago for bringing her third world corruption into British politics.

 

Being a Labour Minister hardly makes you a good person. As Ivor Caplin also showed earlier this week when he was arrested while meeting young boys for sex. 

 

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24852351.former-labour-minister-arrested-vigilante-paedophile-sting/

 

You guys sure do pick 'em. 

 

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

Among those who benefited was Rayner herself, who bought her council house in 2007 with a 25 percent discount.

What a raving hypocrite. Disgusting nerve to now impose this when she took advantage of it herself

6 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

What a raving hypocrite. Disgusting nerve to now impose this when she took advantage of it herself

 

Just classic Labour really.

 

They are riddled with hypocrisy from top to bottom. 

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Just classic Labour really.

 

They are riddled with hypocrisy from top to bottom. 

Jess Phillips to, she bought her council house when she was 22  

 

This is Labour

 

 

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Jess Phillips to, she bought her council house when she was 22  

 

This is Labour

 

 

 

Another #bekind lefty who having climbed up the greasy pole of politics to escape her working class roots, cannot wait to put her boot on the necks of those she left behind. 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

The proposed reforms would extend the required residency period from three years to ten years before tenants can access the scheme, while also reducing the discounts available. A public consultation on these changes is expected to conclude on Wednesday. If implemented, the Resolution Foundation warns that half a million tenants will lose access to the scheme, effectively marking "the end of Right to Buy."  

 

Poor journalism by the person who wrote the Telegraph article.  It clearly is not the end.  But the goalposts have been moved and I don't like that (and neither should I as my parents bought their council house).  Would have been better if more houses had've been built by previous governments (of either colour) and better resources had been put into managing immigration by previous governments (of either colour).

 

Or Thatcher had not introduced this 'right' in the first place.

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Another #bekind lefty who having climbed up the greasy pole of politics to escape her working class roots, cannot wait to put her boot on the necks of those she left behind. 

There isn’t enough public housing to meet demand.

 

Something needs to be done and when it is you moan. 

14 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

 

Poor journalism by the person who wrote the Telegraph article.  It clearly is not the end.  But the goalposts have been moved and I don't like that (and neither should I as my parents bought their council house).  Would have been better if more houses had've been built by previous governments (of either colour) and better resources had been put into managing immigration by previous governments (of either colour).

 

Or Thatcher had not introduced this 'right' in the first place.

 

Agree with part of that but when this started there was no real shortage and this gave thousands of folks a chance to own their own property. Right to buy does not alter basic supply and demand effects and these should have been considered much better. 

17 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

Agree with part of that but when this started there was no real shortage and this gave thousands of folks a chance to own their own property. Right to buy does not alter basic supply and demand effects and these should have been considered much better. 

Yeah, fair point.

would there be a political party willing to help their citizen? not filling their own pockets?

 

give everybody the right to buy a house, not via the bank, but directly taken from your salary... if you lose your job, you get 1 year help, after, you can move out ...    well, all the illegals and lazy people would be homeless , cannot have that...

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Makes sense, selling public housing at a time when there is a shortage of public housing is a ludicrous idea.

 

 

I don't particularly like Angela Rayner but this post makes perfect sense as does this policy.

Working as I did in social housing I was buying back ex right to buy homes in very large Nos including very many mortgage defaults. Agencies existed to promote RTB promising to  purchase ex RTBs back to back with  tenants and despite  resale restrictions these finished up in the private sector rented at exorbitant prices and unfortunately all RTBs will go this way.  Stupid system designed by politicians who are gerrymandering and many of whom are gouging landlords themselves.

3 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

Agree with part of that but when this started there was no real shortage and this gave thousands of folks a chance to own their own property. Right to buy does not alter basic supply and demand effects and these should have been considered much better. 

Right to buy seriously affected supply and demand. Well, it seriously affected supply, as councils were not allowed to replace houses sold, so the supply of social housing virtually stopped.

9 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Makes sense, selling public housing at a time when there is a shortage of public housing is a ludicrous idea.

 

 

There’s not a shortage of public housing. There is an oversupply of unnecessary, unneeded and unwanted immigrants, often comprising three generations of the same family and other extended family members who should never be considered for public housing but are being prioritised over genuine British people.

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There isn’t enough public housing to meet demand.

 

Something needs to be done and when it is you moan. 

 

Immigration halted for a minimum of 5 years.

 

Channel hoppers relocated to the Falkland Islands, with a tent and a sleeping bag.

 

No, we are moaning because it is not being done.

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

A nasty piece of work. 

 

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Just classic Labour really.

 

They are riddled with hypocrisy from top to bottom. 

 

And Kung Fu fighter Mike Amesbury , like a slimy, slippery creature, has pled guilty, rather going to Court next week.

 

If It was me, I would be telling him to ram his guilty plea and get his **** in Court.

 

Sorry, I got my dates mixed up, its the " Cut their throats " Labour guy that's up in Court next week.

1 hour ago, HK MacPhooey said:

There’s not a shortage of public housing. There is an oversupply of unnecessary, unneeded and unwanted immigrants, often comprising three generations of the same family and other extended family members who should never be considered for public housing but are being prioritised over genuine British people.

Here we go again, blaming immigrants.

 

There’s a shortage of public housing across the nation, including areas with low immigrant populations.

58 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Immigration halted for a minimum of 5 years.

 

Channel hoppers relocated to the Falkland Islands, with a tent and a sleeping bag.

 

No, we are moaning because it is not being done.

Tories out of Government for twenty years while their policies that have done so much to wreck British society are reversed is a much more effective give solution.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Here we go again, blaming immigrants.

 

There’s a shortage of public housing across the nation, including areas with low immigrant populations.

 

Linky?

13 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A bit like an immigrant obsessed with hatred of other immigrants.

 

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Tories out of Government for twenty years while their policies that have done so much to wreck British society are reversed is a much more effective give solution.

 

What are you on about now? All governments since the 60's have failed. Council house construction boomed after WW2 but it became more and more expensive to build, maintain, repair and collect revenues for them (tax) over time, until eventually the cost burden of providing "affordable" social housing became not so affordable after all and promised huge losses. Local and national governments of all stripes needed the foresight to plan a system and budget for long-term adequate housing much better than they did, especially from the late 1990's, when net immigration was allowed to increase drastically from the previous steady low average rate. 

 

 

37 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

What are you on about now? All governments since the 60's have failed. Council house construction boomed after WW2 but it became more and more expensive to build, maintain, repair and collect revenues for them (tax) over time, until eventually the cost burden of providing "affordable" social housing became not so affordable after all and promised huge losses. Local and national governments of all stripes needed the foresight to plan a system and budget for long-term adequate housing much better than they did, especially from the late 1990's, when net immigration was allowed to increase drastically from the previous steady low average rate. 

 

 

Linky?

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Linky?

After you...

 

On 1/16/2025 at 8:33 AM, Bkk Brian said:

What a raving hypocrite. Disgusting nerve to now impose this when she took advantage of it herself

All politicians are hypocrites and liars and Labour are worse than all the other political parties put together.