Context
Council house stock has declined in Somerset from tens of thousands to only 6,000 due to the right to buy scheme. Local councillors have protected and managed council houses for decades.
Question
My Somerset councillor colleagues have for decades steadfastly protected and managed our stock of council houses, which has declined through right to buy from tens of thousands a number of years ago to only 6,000 now. While I welcome the recent attention to this issue by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister, is it not time that communities decide for themselves whether to sell off council houses at all?
Answer from The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)
Although I respect the hon. Gentleman and his views, we have a principled difference of opinion on this matter. As I have made clear, the Government’s considered view is that long-standing council tenants should be able to buy the homes that they have lived in for many years. I hope, however, that the right-to-buy reforms that we have made and announced today—reduced maximum cash discounts, allowing councils to retain 100% of receipts and exempting newly built social homes from the right to buy for 35 years—will create a fairer and more sustainable scheme.
Not addressed: The minister did not address whether local communities should have discretion over the right-to-buy policy.
How: We Have A Principled Difference Of Opinion
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