Overview

• Since 1980, 1.9 million council homes have been sold under the right-to-buy scheme at an average 43% discount, resulting in £194bn of foregone public value
• The policy has sharply reduced affordable housing stock and left one in six private tenants renting former council properties
• Local authorities have faced net asset disinvestment and now spend over £20bn annually on housing benefit for sold-off homes
• Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is advocating to extend the minimum tenancy period from three to ten years and cap discounts on sales
• The government is weighing these tighter eligibility rules alongside a proposed £39bn social housing investment to address shortages