Consultations on Rents and Right to Buy now open

Two key consultations have opened following the Budget.  

At the Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that social housing rents would be permitted to rise by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) +1% for five years from April 2026. This has been accompanied by a consultation into future rent policy, including looking at potentially extending the proposed rent settlement to ten years, something the NHC and other sector bodies have called for.  

The Government also opened a consultation on proposed changes to the Right to Buy. This includes reducing and capping the discounts available to tenants, extending the number of years somebody would need to be a tenant before they could benefit from the Right to Buy, and potentially exempting new build properties from the Right to Buy. The NHC  welcomed these proposals providing a comment in the government announcement.  

We will respond to both consultations and are keen to hear the views of our members on these issues. We are especially interested in hearing how extending the rent settlement to ten years would help members to invest in new and existing properties.  

You will find the consultation on future rent policy, which closes on 23rd December here, and the Right to Buy consultation, which closes on 15th January here. If you would like to share views on either consultation or arrange a conversation, please contact tom.kennedy@northern-consortium.org.uk