Right-to-buy: What is it – and why are the Tories are doomed to repeat the mistakes of Thatcher?
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Huge numbers are bought up by private landlords open image in gallery Far from helping people live the ‘dream’ of owning a home, Right to Buy homes that were rented out by councils often end up in the hands of private landlords – to whom tenants pay much higher rents. Housing waiting lists are huge open image in gallery A lack of affordable housing has also pushed more people on to the streets, according to a report Demand for council houses and housing association properties is far out-stripping their short supply and extending Right To Buy would make it worse. Fewer houses could end up built open image in gallery A Tory government would ensure that councils built 400,000 new homes over five years through a £1bn new fund to unlock brownfield land The government has dramatically cut the amount of money it gives to housing associations – as a result they are more reliant than ever on raising their own money to build houses. It’s not even popular with the public open image in gallery The policy may not even be the vote-winner the Tories appear to be betting on: A recent YouGov/Times poll found that 66% of people were either opposed to or unsure about extending Right to Buy to housing associations.
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