Legal News

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has said recent increases in the number of people taking up the government’s Right to Buy option show that potential homeowners are “still very keen” to use Right to Buy to acquire a home.

Figures show that 50,000 households have taken up Right to Buy since 2012 – and 291,000 households have been supported into ownership by government-backed schemes.

Under the scheme, more affordable homes are delivered for every additional home sold. So far, councils have received £259 million from sales of homes, which will go towards building additional homes. There have now been nearly 5,000 starts on additional new homes, exceeding the target for one-for-one additional sales.

The Right to Buy scheme gives qualifying social tenants the opportunity to buy their rented home at a discount. Since 1980, Right to Buy has helped nearly two million council tenants own their home.

Since reinvigoration in April 2012, there have also been 49,573 Right to Buy and preserved Right to Buy sales.

The latest figures show more than 3,000 people bought under the Right to Buy scheme between October and December.

Voluntary Right to Buy will also extend the discounts for council tenants to 1.3 million housing association tenants, offering them the chance to own their home. More than 25,000 housing association tenants have already registered their interest in taking up this option – with 1,000 registering their interest each week.

The historic agreement between the government and housing associations also ensures that a new home will be built for every one sold nationally, significantly increasing supply across the country and on a 2-for-1 basis in London.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:

“We are determined that anyone who aspires to own their own home should have the opportunity to do so.

“These figures show people are still very keen to take up their Right to Buy and why we are now extending that opportunity to housing association tenants.

“Britain is building again and homes are being delivered following the sale of properties.

“Alongside this, a thousand tenants are registering each week to join those who have already realised their dream to own their home.”

The latest figures released in March show that the top ten locations for taking up Right to Buy are Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leeds, Kingston Upon Hull, Sheffield, Newham in east London, Tower Hamlets in east London, Southwark in southeast London, and Barking in east London.
Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on all property and housing matters, including Local Authority housing, Right to Buy, planning consents and appeals, and buy-to-let.

Duncan Lewis also offers competitively-priced conveyancing services to homebuyers, including guiding first-time buyers through the conveyancing process.

The Duncan Lewis housing department is also able to advise landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, disrepair of rented accommodation, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on property and housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.