To think that Boris bringing back the 'Right to buy' scheme from the 80s is a terrible idea

[somewhereoverthechipshop]

Just this really. I think it's a slap in the face for all those private renters who cannot afford to buy a home, and just a horrible idea.
Boris Johnson mulls a new Right to Buy scheme as housebuilding hits the curb (cityam.com)

Not sure if link above works, but you can google it.
Evidently he is 'mulling over' the idea of bringing back Margaret Thatcher's scheme from the late 80s that decimated this country's council housing stock.
Just wondered what other people thought about it?

@Babyroobs for much the same reason as many councils did - although most community housing tenants are of course house- proud to a fault and diligent in paying the rent there is no escaping the fact that this sector of society is its poorest. This means that rents are often late or not collected at all, with many rent debts being written off entirely. Many tenants have drug or alcohol problems, or mental health issues or learning difficulties, which may mean they have issues in maintaining their homes. Illegal subletting is a huge issue too, especially in London.

Repairs. Upgrades. Rent collectors. Evictions. Anti-social behaviour. Fire safety. Gas checks. Legal fees. All of this costs vast sums of money to administer, which a local councils tiny rent rolls won't even touch.

My stepfather worked as a council housing officer for over forty years. He told me that whilst he personally disagreed with right to buy he could see why local authorities were so keen to jettison their housing stock in the '80s such properties were basically a massive millstone round a council's neck...and phenomenally expensive millstones, at that.

How many LAs and HAs are looking at their portfolios, which will have vastly increased in value over the years, and their running costs, and drawing uncomfortable conclusions?

The end of cheap housing for anyone draws near. How else to flog the slaves into working 80 hour weeks, eh?! Mortgages for all, whether we like it or not. Hurrah!

I am in a HA property, been here 12 years and I won’t be buying it even if I have “the right”.

This home was offered to me at a horribly difficult time in my life, I was so grateful to get it and plan to be here for a good while yet.

Weve made improvements, and got the garden levelled and landscaped at a cost of nearly £10k. All of this will be passed on with my good wishes if and when the time comes that I no longer need it.

It is social housing for me, and it will be social housing for the next person who needs urgent rehousing when I no longer live here,

It will be allowed because it's the easiest way for housing, that will cost housing associations and councils a small fortune to bring up to decent home standards, to be sold off. Add in the banning of use of natural gas boilers. It's cheaper for the housing associations and the council to build new properties.

Be sure this is not in the tenants best interests.

100% agree with this. And heavy taxes on those who rent out whole houses via air bnb which is reducing available homes, pushing up house prices and private rents, causing landlords to evict tenants so they re let under Airbnb and generally sucking the life out of whole towns and villages. It’s a total blight on towns like the one I live in, along with second holiday homes. Gentrification and influx of Londoners has made my home town unaffordable for locals and youngsters who grew up here. All thanks to to the likes of Yucky Stilletos and articles in various newspapers.

One of my sons is desperate to get his own place - he can't afford to rent anywhere decent on his own, so hopes to be able to buy somewhere. Looking at prices on Rightmove, he's either going to have to buy in a not very good area, or try to get a small flat in a slightly better neighbourhood. Many of the properties are only available to buy via auction - what's all that about? Something should be done to stop people buying lots of properties. "Homes Under The Hammer has a lot to answer for.

Bring it in for private renters as well as council tenants. And if councils sell their houses, they should have to build a new property for every one they sell. They should have no choice in this, no excuses.

Is he proposing to require private landlords sell to their tenants? No? Just housing associations? And this will be the same scheme they are struggling to find a legal way to do as it requires the state taking assets from charities?

He's a washed up fuckwit and he should resign.

Vote tactically this week, vote ABC
Anything
But
Conservative

Its always the same on these threads, the use of gendered terminology is constant, lord and lady, theres a more gender neutral term and far more accurate term - parasite

Right to buy is the reason there is such a scarcity of social housing now. Its a very short sighted way of keeping the developers afloat. If anything there should be a development of the "help to buy" programme encouraging first time purchasers to save for a deposit and have that topped up by the government or a rent to buy option

The whole housing issue infuriates me. I know a couple who managed to get an intermediate rent property through a local HA as they knew someone who worked there and they were given first refusal. They both earn very very good money. It's so unfair. Meanwhile I have to pay exortionate rent each month.

I don't get this. You can buy your council house anyway. You can even buy your HA home but only at a discounted price and it isn't that great a discount, I think 25% of market value in our local one which sounds a lot but if you are priced out of the market you may well not be able to afford that. It's a stupid idea because the RTB already exists, I live in an ex-council property and most of those around me are now privately owned and have been for years.

Am on the fence. Obviously affordable houses to rent should be a priority for those that need them. I have rented my HA house for over 10 years and have a clause in my contract to say I have no right to buy. If I could have purchased even a % share in my house I would have been so glad and grateful as renting is dead money, but no other option but to live here after being screwed over by useless ex.

Whatever this gov do you can rest assured it will only benefit themselves and their rich pals.
Short term thinking extraordinaire.
But hey, the public lap it up every 4 years, so..

This type of viewpoint does make me a bit angry - you want to benefit personally from a policy that will make it even worse for those that come after you. Basically you want the charity to gift you free money.

You only can;t afford to buy because of right to buy.

I don't believe this, there are always tales about it being unfair but the rules for all HAs near us are carefully applied.

Could you explain why you have been indirectly discriminated against ie which characteristic?

And tax 2nd, 3rd etc homes more to make it less attractive to "park" money in property. I think this is what Canada has just done.

Yes. Along with taxing owners of multiple properties more.

Lessons from Germany: here taxes usually account for about 10% of the costs of buying a house, plus rental laws for tenants are really quite strict (especially for places owned by large corporations) and there is less easy credit available for people wanting to buy houses.

The result: more-affordable rents and a tendency to buy only one house (ever) and live in it, for those who choose that option.

I live in ex LA housing (although listed and from1900)
In the mid 1990 there was no value for the properties and the initial sale values were low with a high right to buy ratio

Today 75% are privately owned- lots have never been resold but are rented on the one Market.

A 1 bed is £500k, 2 bed is £700k and 3 bed is £900k

The maximum discount is about £116,200 (London)

How is he planning to change this? Most of the council tenants are in 2 or 3 bed and ground floor- they are older or have a disability- some do work but not many.

I also reckon inner block of 16 less than 10 are occupied the rest are empty
It says that 4 are still council owned including next door which is empty.

Social housing tenants have already hit the jackpot compared to people who have to rent privately.

Its too unfair to private renters to offer social housing tenants yet another advantage over them. It would end up acting as an incentive to not do your best in life to provide for yourself because you’re better off arranging yourself so that you fit the criteria for social housing.

That house was your safety net after you were screwed over. It should be someone else's safety net after you!

That would only be passed on to renters though 😞

@FairyCakeWings totally agree. I'd love the security of a social housing property for me and my daughter. I've recently applied after really struggling with private rental costs but doubt very much we'll get anything. It's particularly galling when you live opposite a social housing block and are having to pay exortionate rent for your flat !