Based on recent headlines the Government’s intention to extend the Right to Buy to Housing Associations is no longer their ‘Top Priority’. The civil servant leading on this policy, Hilary Davies has stated that the ‘new government’ is re-thinking the policy as a whole and ministers’ views were unclear at this stage.

This may be perceived as good news by housing associations and local authorities alike as critics of the proposed extension say that it will:

• Further reduce affordable housing stock in inner cities as council’s will be forced to sell off high value council homes to fund the discounts, and

• Make it more difficult for housing associations to develop affordable homes due to the uncertainty surrounding future rent revenues.

However, a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government has downplayed Ms Davies’ comments providing that “Nothing has changed. We remain committed to rolling out Voluntary Right to Buy for housing association tenants and will set out the timeline in due course.”

Time will tell…watch this space for further updates.

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