Five housing associations are trialling the extension of right to buy, which is intended to give tenants in these homes the same right to buy their property as those in council homes.
Under the voluntary agreement reached between the sector and ministers, each home sold would be directly replaced by housing associations once the scheme was launched nationally. Discounts on the value of properties would be fully funded by government. The cost of these discounts is set to be met by requiring ‘high value’ council properties be sold off.
Nearly 800 applications have been submitted by tenants who want to take their first steps towards owning their own home since the launch of the pilots, housing and planning minister, Gavin Barwell said. He announced today that the first purchases are now beginning to be made.
“Anyone who works hard and aspires to own their home should have that opportunity to do so,” he added.
The pilot associations and council areas covered are:
L&Q – Croydon, Enfield, Greenwich, Haringey, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark
Riverside – Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral
Saffron Housing – South Norfolk
Sovereign – Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, South Oxfordshire
Thames Valley Housing Association – Guildford, Hart, Runnymede, Rushmoor, Woking
