The consultation is focused on various aspects of the Right to Buy scheme. Credit: Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock.

The UK government has launched a consultation seeking input on potential reforms to the Right to Buy scheme in England.

This initiative aims to balance the opportunity for council tenants to own their homes with the need to preserve essential social housing stock.

The consultation follows the Autumn Budget 2024 announcement of reduced maximum cash discounts for the Right to Buy programme.

Led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, it is focused on various aspects of the Right to Buy scheme.

These include the qualifying criteria for tenants, the initial and maximum discounts as a percentage of the property’s value, and the types of properties that should be exempt from the scheme.

Stakeholders are also invited to share their views on whether there should be increased restrictions on properties post-sale, how homes sold under Right to Buy should be replaced, and the rules governing the Right to Buy receipts use.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner said: “A fairer Right to Buy will help councils protect and increase their housing stock, while also keeping the pathway to home ownership there for those who otherwise might not have the opportunity to get on the housing ladder.”

Since its introduction in 1980, the Right to Buy has enabled more than two million tenants to purchase their homes, promoting social mobility and opportunity.

However, the scheme has faced criticism for its impact on social housing stock, particularly for Social Rent and larger family homes, which are costly for councils to replace.

Additionally, a significant number of properties acquired through the scheme have subsequently been put up for rent, frequently at higher rates and of inferior quality, leading to increased expenses for taxpayers, including those related to housing benefits.

This cycle has prompted further scrutiny of the Right to Buy’s long-term impact on housing quality and affordability.

The consultation is part of the government’s commitment to the largest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

It is pertinent only to England, as the Right to Buy scheme has already concluded in Scotland and Wales in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

Any policy changes resulting from the consultation will undergo an appropriate assessment to ensure a fairer and more sustainable Right to Buy scheme.