Right to buy extended to further rub noses of private renters in housing unfairness

ruggedtoast

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/22/council-housing-right-to-buy

Undeserved discounts for pampered council tenants who buy their homes will be increased to a maximum of £50,000 in England under a government plan to revitalise the "rub private renters nose in housing unfairness" scheme.

Today, the maximum discounts range from £16,000 in most of London to £38,000 in south-east England. Several factors determine the discount to which a tenant is entitled, including how long they have been bone idle, the age and condition of the property.

The proposals mean that someone in the West Midlands who has been a skiving doleite popping out kids and signing on for eight years on household handouts of £20,000 could buy their £90,000 flat with a discount of £50,000, compared with the £26,000 discount now. In London, a doley of five years buying a flat worth £160,000 would also receive a discount of £50,000 – more than three times the previous cap of £16,000, and equal to about 20 years saving of a working first time buyer in a private let trying to pay their own way.

The increase in discount means that 65% of local authority tenants could afford to buy their homes, but few of these are likely to be eligible for a mortgage as only 16% of tenants have ever been bothered to get out of bed before noon, according to property analytics business Hometrack.

"Its a marvellous scheme" Said a politician earlier today. "If this doesnt encourage people to sign on and do nowt then nothing will."

I have edited it slightly for clarity.

jimimi

ruggedtoast wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/22/council-housing-right-to-buy



I have edited it slightly for clarity.

That really did make me :rotfl: and I live in a council (well, housing association) house!

property.advert

In an era of housing shortage I do not see much sense in selling off stock for below market value unless those funds can build more housing.

nearlynew

Right-to-buy was, is and always will be an absolute scandal.


The sort of scheme that only a lying thief could come up with.

michaels

Didn't we decide in the end that it originated wiht Ken Livingstone at the GLC?!

Which is worse value for the taxpayer - giving council tenants subsidised rent or giving them subsidised rtb?

nearlynew wrote: »

Right-to-buy was, is and always will be an absolute scandal.


The sort of scheme that only a lying thief could come up with.

ILW

nearlynew wrote: »

Right-to-buy was, is and always will be an absolute scandal.


The sort of scheme that only a lying thief could come up with.

RTB is OK, discounting it is not.

Unless it is used as a way of getting rid of the stuff nobody wants to rent.