Resident and landlord support for 10-year Right to Buy suspension

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

A council in Scotland is moving to suspend the Right to Buy for 10 years after local registered providers and nearly 60% of residents backed the plans.

Perth and Kinross Council consulted on plans to bring in a 'pressured area status' across its entire local authority area last year.

It consulted nearly 3,000 residents affected by the suspension - which would apply to all council tenants who entered their tenancy on or after 30 September 2002 - with 56% backing the plans, 8% neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and 36% disagreeing.

The suspension would also apply to tenants who have transferred property on or after this date.

It said that independent organisations who were consulted, such as local housing associations and registered social landlords, were 100% in favour of a pressured area status.

The council says it wants to "protect" its housing stock and the inclusion of a 'pressured area status' would ensure the huge pressure on social housing in the area doesn't get worse.

The results of the consultation will now be reported to a meeting of the housing and health committee on Wednesday 1 February.

The committee will be asked to agree that the entire area of Perth and Kinross is designated as a pressured area with immediate effect from 1st February 2012.

Housing and health convener, councillor Peter Barrett, said: “The suspension of Right To Buy through 'pressured area status' would help us preserve the scarce supply of affordable housing to rent in Perth and Kinross.

“There is far greater demand for social-rented and other forms of affordable housing than there is supply throughout the Perth & Kinross area. There are thousands of people in Perth and Kinross who are in housing need, and that is why this move is important.

"The council is working very hard to increase the amount of affordable housing available in Perth and Kinross but that job is made very difficult when social housing stock is being sold. 

“I would like to thank all of our tenants who took part in the consultation - their views are very important to us. The results show that the majority fully understand the reasons for this course of action and support our aims."

In England the Government plans to re-introduce attractive discounts for tenants through Right to Buy and wants to replace each home sold through the programme.