Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So now the Tories are bringing back the Right to Buy scheme. Anyone else think they're losing the plot?

227 replies

AyeAmarok · 14/04/2015 08:13

We have a housing crisis, especially in affordable social housing, so they are going to offer tenants the right to purchase it for up to 70% discount Shock

It seems like every day brings new nonsense.

I quite liked about 80% of what the Tories have done, until this week. It seems such a desperate attempt to buy "working-class" votes.

Election 2015: David Cameron to pledge right-to-buy extension - www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32295970

OP posts:
Original poster
AyeAmarok · 14/04/2015 08:16

Actually thinking it through, is this just a desperate attempt to get the HA owned properties in naice areas back into the private sector so they can push the HA people out into the new builds on the brownfield sites.

Social cleansing, if you will.

OP posts:
JamNan · 14/04/2015 08:17

God help us if they get back in. They have done so much damage.

Marmaladedandelions · 14/04/2015 08:17

What have they done?

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 14/04/2015 08:18

I don't like anything the Tories have done. This just adds to my list of their other stupid policies.

Don't worry though, like most political parties, they have a history of promising stuff that never comes to fruition. This will probably be the same!

JamNan · 14/04/2015 08:19

AyeAmarok
Totally agree. Nearly all ex-council housing in my village from the Thatcher era is now private rental at exorbitant rents.

muminhants · 14/04/2015 08:21

Have they ever had a plot to lose?

sunnydayinmay · 14/04/2015 08:21

Woken up by this on the radio this morning - true colours coming out in the parties' policies now.

The Tories quite simply do not care about anyone else. They have no idea at all.

OrlandoWoolf · 14/04/2015 08:21

Buy a cheap house. Can't afford to pay mortgage. Leave house.

Look for new council house. Join long list. But lots of privately rented house have appeared on the market...

At expensive rents. It's ok - you can get housing benefit. Hang on a moment....

ElectraCute · 14/04/2015 08:23

Well, I loathe pretty much eveything the Tories have done, but a move this cynical and damaging surprises even me.

As you say, we have a massive problem with a shortage of social housing, mind boggling house prices and extortionate private rental fees, all off which is making life a misery for many people. This will only exacerbate it.

I'm beginning to despair of this country's obsession with home owning, actually, but it's given that these days it's the only possible chance most people have of any sort of security in their old age it's hardly surprising.

I don't begrudge social housing tenants being able to buy their homes if the govt builds plenty more. But they won't. So what will it solve? This just feels like another big fuck you to anyone unable to get on the housing ladder or ineligible for social housing.

PausingFlatly · 14/04/2015 08:25

They're not losing the plot.

They're selling it to the private sector at a taxpayer-funded discount.

thehumanjam · 14/04/2015 08:25

I agree with AyeAmarok it's just a desperate ploy to win the working class vote.

I wouldn't have a problem with right to buy if the money was used at building more social housing. But it never is.

I feel sorry for those in private rented they will never have the option of receiving up to £100K for nothing.

With council housing the houses generally were worth less than similar non council homes but with housing association homes being built amongst private dwellings I can see how people might perceive this policy has being unfair. Your neighbour is lucky enough to get a HA property then they buy it at less than £100k than you paid for yours. I can see that leaving a sour taste in some peoples mouths.

winsomewitch · 14/04/2015 08:29

Its another ridiculous idea and I live in a relatively new HA property so could potentially benefit.

They might aswell just build houses and sell them with a 50% discount for those who cant afford to buy on the open market instead of people buying into these crap deal part buy/part rent rip off schemes Confused

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2015 08:34

Flaming idiots! It's a stupid policy, ill thought out and that we can ill afford.

trixymalixy · 14/04/2015 08:38

I heard this on the radio this morning. What are they playing at?!??

ElectraCute · 14/04/2015 08:40

Hopefully most people will be able to see this policy for what it really is and with a bit of luck this will be the final nail in Dave 'n' George's coffin. No one with half a brain can truly think this is a good idea, surely?

I swear if this bunch of sociopaths gets in again next month I'm off to Scotland.

Binkybix · 14/04/2015 08:44

It might just be the bribe they need to get enough votes from a different demographic?

Just heard Theresa May trying to justify it. Weak.

thehumanjam · 14/04/2015 09:01

I think it will be a vote winner because people will see it as Dave sticking up for the working classes and helping people move up the social ladder. Never mind those they have to trample on to get there.

If I lived in a HA property I might be tempted to vote Tory even if I believe that the scheme is flawed and morally wrong. You can't blame people for putting their families first.

DoctorTwo · 14/04/2015 09:07

This is from the government that insists it's cutting borrowing whilst borrowing more in the last 5 years than New Labour did in 13 years. Lying thieving bastards.

engeika · 14/04/2015 09:09

I agree . There is another thread on this here. I knew there would be as soon as I heard it.

We need more good quality social housing so that the waiting list is short, working people have a good chance of a secure tenancy.

It caused so many problems - and huge resentment.

DoraGora · 14/04/2015 09:11

No. I think it's a great idea. Sell off all the country's social housing, declare all poor people intentionally homeless and beat them, beat the... sorry, as you were.

Cherriesandapples · 14/04/2015 09:11

This is an awful policy. Awful.

rollonthesummer · 14/04/2015 09:19

Who owns housing association houses? Is it private landlords or local authorities? So, they will be forced to sell them? At a good price? so that people on lower incomes can own their own house. What will happen if those on low incomes lose their job or their zero-hour contract doesn't pay enough to keep it? They will them lose their house and need rehousing in a housing association house. But there won't be any?

Does anyone here think this is a good idea and it will benefit them personally. If I've got that wrong-I would love you to explain it to me.

DoraGora · 14/04/2015 09:27

They've got to get back in, first, and find a political partner willing to support them in their desperate desire to nuke anything that looks even vaguely egalitarian. I wouldn't worry just yet.

angelos02 · 14/04/2015 09:37

That is a real kick in the teeth to people like myself and DH that have worked hard to get decent jobs, lived in privately rented properties, spent 20 years saving for a deposit to buy our house. Should've just done either a low-paid or not worked at all and then got a house for 70% off.

Cameron, you've just lost a couple of votes here. Muppet. Transparent idiot.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 14/04/2015 09:40

I heard this last night and was so cross I couldn't get to sleep.
Selling off the secure rental properties at a discount is madness. We need more not less. Bringing the rental market back into line with secure affordable housing available would save billions on housing benefit, improve all sorts of outcomes for children and the discouragement of btl landlords would free up the housing market to correct itself and lower prices for people who want to buy.
It's a shambles of a bribe policy

Swipe left for the next trending thread