 The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is calling for reform of Right to Buy to be prioritised in the King’s Speech as data reveals the scale of decline in social housing stock, even as demand for it skyrockets.
New figures from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government show that over the past year, over 6,000 council homes in England have been sold under Right to Buy. Only half of these homes have been replaced.
This is set against a backdrop of rapidly increasing demand, with the latest data showing a 17% rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation over the past two years. Additionally, social housing waiting lists have risen by 13% since 2020.
Cllr Hannah Dalton, DCN spokesperson for housing, 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 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 is calling for urgent reforms to the Right to Buy scheme, including:
- Allowing councils to retain 100% of Right to Buy receipts to reinvest in replacements
- Introducing a ‘Right to Pause’ sales for councils with extreme housing pressures
- Empowering councils to set local Right to Buy discount rates that reflect market conditions
- Protecting newly built social homes from being sold under Right to Buy.
Cllr Dalton added: “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.”
You can read more of DCN’s recommendations on how to boost council housing in our Housing and Planning Prospectus: DCN PROSPECTUS – HOUSING AND PLANNING CHAPTER.
