Reforming the Right to Buy
This consultation seeks views on how the Right to Buy should be reformed to deliver a fairer, better value and more sustainable scheme where longstanding tenants can buy their own homes but, crucially, where councils can replace those homes.
Right to Buy is an integral way for social tenants to get on the property ladder; many of whom may not otherwise be able to access home ownership.
However, reform of Right to Buy is essential to better protect much-needed social housing stock, boost council capacity and build more social homes than we lose, supporting the government’s commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
The consultation follows the reduction in maximum Right to Buy cash discounts, which was announced at Autumn Budget 2024, and asks for views on:
- the qualifying criteria for tenants
- initial and maximum discounts as a percentage of the property value
- which types of properties should be exempted under the scheme
- whether there should be increased restrictions on properties after sale
- the replacement of homes sold under the Right to Buy
- rules governing the use of Right to Buy receipts and how these could be simplified