Councils have called for the power to pause the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme when they are facing significant housing pressure.
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has urged the new Government to prioritise reform of RTB in the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
It pointed to new figures that show 6,000 council homes were sold under the scheme in England last year, and said just half had been replaced.
Meanwhile, the latest data shows a 13% rise since 2020 in the number of households on social housing waiting lists, the DCN said.
Housing spokesperson Hannah Dalton said: ‘We simply cannot continue down this path if we are to ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.
‘District councils stand ready to work in partnership with government to deliver on this critical priority – but time is of the essence.’
As well as a ‘Right to Pause’ the sale of homes, the DCN's proposed reforms would see councils able to retain 100% of RTB receipts and set discount rates locally, and more done to prevent the sale of newly built homes.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to prioritise the building of new homes for social rent and ‘better protect our existing stock’ by reviewing the RTB discounts introduced in 2012 and increasing protections on newly built social housing.
