right to buy housing association tenants

Pixie5740

Another tenant might not be able to use the property whilst another tenant lives there but eventually it will become available even if that is 80 years down the line. 80 years is much sooner than forever.

Where are these new HA properties to be built? How can the HA's afford the land and construction if they're selling properties at a knock down price? The sums don't add up.

I do know that after the original RTB was introduced the number of people living on the streets increased. I can only imagine that will continue to happen as the private rental market is made to pick up the slack whilst housing benefit is capped.

leveller2911

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Another tenant might not be able to use the property whilst another tenant lives there but eventually it will become available even if that is 80 years down the line. 80 years is much sooner than forever.

For the huge numbers of people currently needing a home, 80yrs time may as well be "forever".....

Where are these new HA properties to be built? How can the HA's afford the land and construction if they're selling properties at a knock down price? The sums don't add up.

If you bother to research you will find that many HA properties were/are built on land ownded by the state so the land cost zip all.

What I can see happening is land being compulsory purchased for the market value of the land without Planning Permission. This land will then be built on.

I do know that after the original RTB was introduced the number of people living on the streets increased. I can only imagine that will continue to happen as the private rental market is made to pick up the slack whilst housing benefit is capped

There are many reasons why people live on the streets many won't have a choice but many do have a choice. Its about time HB was capped, paying inflated rents on poor quality private rentals with no regulation was always doomed to fail. We need the private sector to take up the slack but regulate them and cap rents.

Pixie5740

Where are you getting this 80 years from? There are HA tenants in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and older. How long are you expecting them to live? Do you not think that there will be people in need of social housing 80 years down the line anyway?

It doesn't matter where the original land came from I want to know where the land for these new HA properties will come from. Land being a finite resource and costing much more these days. Is there any state owned land left given the number of parks and playing fields sold off to developers? You are only guessing at the possible source.

The changes to council RTB introduced in 2012 were supposed to lead to more social housing being built, how is that working out?

When the original RTB was introduced the amount of social housing reduced. At the same time private rents went up and benefits were cut. The number of people living on the streets trebled between 1980 and 1990....coincidence? We're seeing the same things with social housing, benefits and private rents happening today.

Whilst I agree that housing benefit was a contributing factor to soaring private rents and something had to be done it has only been capped for some people. Pensioners living in family homes they no longer need are exempt. The way the HB cap has been introduced has left a lot of people (some of whom are very vulnerable) up !!!! creek without a paddle.

Experience tells me that RTB for anyone, not just HA tenants is a terrible policy. The private sector is just not cut out to offer tenants secure, long term homes. HTB was another big con but at least it's coming to an end soon.

t0rt0ise

The HAs don't have to build houses for rent, they can build them for part rent, part buy which is unpopular.


I also wonder how many tenants in London will be able to afford to buy even with the maximum discount. So not many new houses built around here I'm thinking.

Debtfree_wannabe_2

Local councils will be paying for this handsomely. Another burden for them.

Norman_Castle

Pixie5740 wrote: »

How can the HA's afford the land and construction if they're selling properties at a knock down price?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-agreement-will-extend-right-to-buy-to-13-million-more-tenants

"The government would compensate the housing association for the discount offered to the tenant and housing associations would retain the sales receipt to enable them to reinvest in the delivery of new homes"


Unlike councils, housing associations are keen to build homes.

Norman_Castle

fairy_lights wrote: »

Well, that's pretty sh*tty news for anyone who needs social housing in the future.

When a HA property is sold it takes with it a socially housed household and provides funding for a new property.
This indirectly increases the availability of social housing as it reduces the number of households in, or in need of social housing.