Chair of Levelling Up Committee warns PM over right to buy extension

by Aysha Gilmore
in 151 News · Funding · Housing
— 9 Jun, 2022

Clive Betts has insisted that the money generated by the government’s proposed extension to the right to buy scheme must go back into the social housing system.

In response to the prime minister’s announcement today (9 June), the chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee said: “It is vital the money goes back into the system of social housing so that new homes can be made available for low-cost rent and purchase.”

In his speech in Blackpool, Boris Johnson confirmed the extension of the right to buy scheme to target the 2.5m households whose homes belong to housing associations. Johnson also promised a “one-for-one replacement” of each social housing property sold and to build hundreds of thousands more each year.

Betts called for further detail on how the right to buy scheme and the construction costs of the new homes would be funded. He suggested that the success of the initiative would be determined by its ability to maintain the social housing supply.

“I hope the government will explain how this policy will safeguard the provision of accessible and affordable housing, particularly affordable rented property,” Betts added.

According to the National Housing Federation (NHF), which represents housing associations in England, 4.2m people are currently in need of social housing in England.

In response to the prime minister’s statement, Kate Henderson, NHF chief executive, said: “We support measures to help people buy their own home, and housing associations already build thousands of homes for shared ownership every year, helping people take their first steps onto the housing ladder.

“However, we are deeply concerned about the long-term impact of right to buy, and any loss of social housing will make the challenge of providing homes for those in need even harder.”