Local authority chiefs have called on the Government to go further with Right to Buy (RTB) reforms and to give councils the power to adapt the scheme to ‘fit the needs of their communities.’
In its submission to the Government consultation on reforming RTB, the Local Government Association (LGA) said councils should be given the ‘control, power and flexibilities’ to shape the scheme to best serve their areas.
The LGA said local authorities should be able to retain their RTB receipts indefinitely, set the discount rate, exempt newly built properties and protect their investment.
The Government announced in the Autumn Budget that discounts for purchases through the scheme will revert to pre-2012 levels. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of RTB applications.
The LGA urged the Government to find out how many applications were made across the country after the announcement and how many houses were lost. It also asked the Government to ‘clarify’ what steps would be taken to offset the loss.
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.’
For more on Right to Buy, check out Reforming Right to Buy.
