NHC calls for further reform to Right to Buy to limit loss of social housing 

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The NHC responded to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation on the proposed reforms to the Right to Buy. We called for changes to limit the loss of social housing, including more control to be given to local authorities. 

While the Right to Buy scheme has benefited some tenants, it has also led to a significant loss of social housing.  

Far more social homes are lost each year through Right to Buy, than are built, and these losses are accumulating. 32,559 homes in the North that have been sold through Right to Buy since 2012/13 and there have been only 4,737 starts and acquisitions in the same period. This is a replacement rate of 1 in every 7. 

With an ongoing depletion of social housing, it is crucial to take stronger measures now to prevent further losses and ensure that essential homes are preserved for those who need them most.  

Unfortunately, this loss of social housing has not always led to home ownership. Nationally over 40 per cent of Right to Buy homes have gone into the private rented sector, often at unaffordable rent levels. 

To effectively tackle the housing crisis and help the Government reach its goal of “delivering the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation”, our response to the Right to Buy consultation asks for a major overhaul to prevent further loss of social rented homes. 

Our key points are: 

  • A longer qualification period is required  before tenants qualify for Right to Buy. 
  • New build housing should be permanently exempt from Right to Buy, to protect the new homes which are desperately needed. 
  • We’d like to see more control given to local authorities. They should be able to set discounts at a level which will allow them to replace homes or use alternative means to retain social housing, such as portable discounts. In areas facing the most acute housing shortages for certain types of homes, local leaders should be able to suspend the programme. 

The NHC welcomed the changes already made to the Right to Buy policy, including the flexibilities introduced in July 2024 and the measures effective following the Autumn Budget. It’s clear that a more radical change is needed to reverse the loss of social housing and provide a fairer system to help more people achieve their ambitions of home ownership. 

Our detailed response can be read here.