... to not understand the "Right to Buy" thing???

[MillieV]

OK. Up and down the country, and here on MN, there is talk about councils not having enough council stock, that there should be more, and we all blame it on Margaret Thatcher. But why is it that now, politicians want to follow in Thatcher's footsteps yet again?!?

One article here

Do these properties come with covenants, i.e. they can only be sold on by the original buyer to those who are also in council/social housing, and continue to be at a discount? This would be fair. However, I fear the housing stock may just be sold on at market value 5 years down the line...

I don't think the right to buy has been an altogether bad thing. Houses were bought and improved byowners and gardens were better looked after. I think it's no more unfair that tenants getting life tenancy even if they have enough money to buy.A council house is still being taken up and not available for a person in need.

It’s been abolished in Scotland (with a grace period for existing tenants) and may well go in Wales – perhaps someone on MN (which collectively knows everything) can tell us whether there is any pressure to abolish it in Northern Ireland.

Now, let’s suppose that after the net election there is a Labour government propped up by SNP and PC votes, but a Conservative majority among Members for English seats. Quite possible.

If that government were to seek to abolish it here that would be an insult to democracy. It does not matter to Scotland or Wales whether England retains RTB or not, and it is just the sort of matter where the English vote should prevail.

And let’s remember that in 1983 the Conservatives won the biggest victory in electoral history. Not quite such a big majority as New Labour in 1997, but far more votes proportionally and absolutely – it was a huge turn-out. And why? Partly because of the intervention in British politics of a Mr Galtieri from Argentina – but mainly because the Old Labour party announced that they would stop RTB and make all who had bought it give councils first refusal at the price paid plus improvements made. Why do you think Labour in England has never done more than tinker at the edges with RTB?

*next election

Right to buy is basically those who are lucky enough to be given social housing pulling the ladder up after them.

You are not wrong pixel but it is popular electorally with social tenants and with those who hope to be.

My sister got pregnant, lived on benefits as a single mother, got allocated a council house in central London. Qualified for right to buy. Made £300k by selling out ASAP to a buy to let landlord who rented it out privately to students.

Free money she did nothing to earn but get pregnant.

There is only one thing wrong with the housing market in this country. Houses are too expensive. House prices need fall - a lot - to make housing affordable! Government cant let that happen though. The banks would all be bust as mortgage defaults would rise rapidly. People would just walk away from property that was worth less than the mortgage.

That is why Govt keeps talking about 'right to buy' or 'shared ownership' or 'deposit ISAs' or 'building more affordable homes'.

Its all claptrap. The answer is house prices need to fall - simple as that.

MoreBeta And how are you proposing that prices should be brought down?

I will give you a suggestion. Break NIMBY's grip on planning and allow new build as fast as the infrastructure will allow. And make that new build subject to a restrictive covenant against BTL. It will never be entirely enforceable but it will discourage BTL.

I think it makes sense that if a person has paid rent for 25+ years and paid what they would have into a mortgage could then 'own' / at least not pay rent for the remainder, during their retirement.

My GPs paid their full council rent (never HB) for 44 years then gave their house back to the council leaving them with nothing. that seems daft.

But RTB went so far the other way- offer wing huge discounts to very recent tenants! All the best stock went and wasn't replaced. So many of these are now owned by private landlords who rent them out for the council's full HB allowance. What was meant to generate money for the government in the 80s is now costing us all a fortune now. (Not to mention the awful social cost)

So what about the people who are forced out of the housing market because the prices are too high BUT don't get social housing who rent for 25+ years are they entitled to a massive reduction and right to buy from the private landlord or is that just tough luck?

Posted to soon!!
Because private tenants pay anything up to 100% more in private rent... doesn't seem right to me.

Same here amazegumball we have been on the council list for less then a year and have been offered several houses the first within a couple of months and we are in the lowest priority band we don't all live in London.

But i thought you could only buy a council house now if you've lived in it since about 1989 (or some year in the 80's)

We wanted to buy ours but where told we didn't have the right to buy it because we moved in after that date.

My neighbour who has lived in her house for 40 years could buy hers if she wanted to

I really don't get this.

Why do something so stupid?!?

Who on Earth thought the solution for scarcity of social housing is... giving them away?!?!?

Hello???

I don't live in London either.
After years of renting over priced shitty houses and having to move every few years , if I can get right to buy then damn right I'm going to take it.

Millie I agree with you. I really, really don't understand why it's still possible for people to buy council housing at hugely discounted prices (or at all) when we have such a well publicised social housing shortage.

I think right to buy should be allowed as long as the council replace the property.

I live in a 3 bed housing association house and I have the right to buy. I live in a tiny village which I was brought up in. I would love for my children to be brought up here too.

I could not afford to live here if I was to buy a house. Most properties that come up for sale are snapped up by btl and holiday homes pricing out the locals.

The whole housing industry whether it be private or rented is out of control...

Can someone who actually makes sense please become a politician...

I've been a tenant since 95 and I can buy mine.

No we don't all live in London and there isn't even close the shortage of social housing here like there is down south and shock horror working families get them as well.

But only London is important I suppose.

My neighbour recently bought her house for 20k, she's been a council tenant for around 5 years. If I was to buy my house (identical in every way except slightly more modern interior and owned by my private landlord) I would be expected to pay around £120,000 with a deposit of at least £6,000 (assuming I'm lucky enough to get on a 5% deposit scheme).
Right to buy is just plain unfair. .. why does my neighbour get to do away with saving for a deposit and eventually earn a pretty chunk should he choose to sell all because she had the luck to be given a council house.

Patrick Thatcher did not allow the councils to spend the money on new council housing - and none of her successors have changed that.

I actually got extra points (for choice based lettings) for working !
I do agreed that when a rtb to brought the council need to replace it.

20k and 5 years a tenant for a 120K house? That doesn't sound right.. The discount goes up the longer you're a tenant. Even with full discount she wouldn't have got it for 20k. Are you sure she told you the truth?

PatrickStarxx / gamerchick

Even if you don't live in London - if you were to buy your house, will the council replace the actual property in the same area? Imagine you own your house, PatrickStarxx and the council builds the new houses somewhere completely different, someone in your shoes... 10 years from now... would not have the chance to stay there.

You are not wrong pixel but it is popular electorally with social tenants and with those who hope to be.

Well we'd love to be social tenants but we can't because all the houses have been sold off cheap!

I can't wait to move into my council house and put up wallpaper and pay half the rent I'm paying now!