Right to Buy Council property, wrong or right?

[poppet2 13]

If 'Right to Buy' Council houses was so wrong, why has this policy continued under both Labour and Conservatives? And why won't the Coalition build more houses, are they frightened of devaluing the expensive property?

[Crosser 10]

Chem will be along shortly to explain it all..............

[Vague_Boy 10]

If 'Right to Buy' Council houses was so wrong, why has this policy continued under both Labour and Conservatives?

 

It was popular with many voters.

 

 

And why won't the Coalition build more houses, are they frightened of devaluing the expensive property?

 

Again, high house prices are seen as a "good thing" by many homeowners. And since 70% of people fall into this category [LINK] that's a lot of voters that politicians would rather not annoy. Plus a surprising number of MPs have homes for rent.

 

I once looked on http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ and was surprised to see that former socialist "firebrand" Michael Meacher owned 9 homes, some of which he rented out.

 

The many homes of Michael Meacher [The Guardian, Saturday 20 January 2001]

 

No vested interest there.

 

In these tough times he is down to only "four residential properties in London from which rental income is received." [LINK]

 

The poor love! How does he manage?

 

If there's one thing more contemptible than a Tory, it's a Champagne Socialist.

[chem1st 10]

There wouldn't be anything with RTB (and the lesser known and very similar scheme, Right to Acquire), if new council houses were built and those unable to access council housing had a right to build.

 

Currently, RTB is wrong, very very wrong.

 

But the way our entire economy is run is wrong, very very wrong indeed. It is a land economy, it is serfdom, and we are all slaves to a land-owning elite. It is becoming more apparent every day, but quite a lot of idiots on here still fail to realise that, especially the ones whom are modern day slave-masters.

[Crosser 10]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

See, I'm psychic too! ;-)

[poppet2 13]

It was popular with many voters.

 

 

 

 

Again, high house prices are seen as a "good thing" by many homeowners.

 

I wonder if the children of those parents have managed to acquire a deposit for a property yet?

[chem1st 10]

I wonder if the children of those parents have managed to acquire a deposit for a property yet?

 

Probably not, and I suspect they would now be more likely to rob the so called 'bank of mum and dad'.

 

As housing inequality between the generations continues to grow, I reckon we will start to see much more instances of people killing their own parents, and their own children. The former in the pursuit of wealth, and the latter due to the frustrations of poverty.

[MrSmith 10]

If 'Right to Buy' Council houses was so wrong, why has this policy continued under both Labour and Conservatives? And why won't the Coalition build more houses, are they frightened of devaluing the expensive property?

 

Right to buy could have been better if covenants had been put onto the properties, so they could only be sold to first time buyers on low incomes and must be owner occupied, with the sale at 75% market value.

Edited June 21, 2013 by MrSmith

[Mecky 10]

wrong, end of

[Rupert_Baehr 10]

If 'Right to Buy' Council houses was so wrong, why has this policy continued under both Labour and Conservatives? And why won't the Coalition build more houses, are they frightened of devaluing the expensive property?

 

Where would they get the capital from?

 

Should they reduce the amount they pay in grants to councils? - That would make some money available ... though being politicians, they'd probably spend it on something else.

[MrSmith 10]

Where would they get the capital from?

 

Should they reduce the amount they pay in grants to councils? - That would make some money available ... though being politicians, they'd probably spend it on something else.

 

The government are currently borrowing money, some of that money is given in the form of housing benefits to landlords, the tax payer pays for something but gets sod all in return, so diverting that borrowed money to house building would be a better use of it.

 

The housing benefits some people get is enough to buy an house, so you get builders to build houses and the government buys them with the money they are dishing out in housing benefits.

[Ms Macbeth 73]

I don't agree with RTB in principle, however I can understand why individuals took the opportunity when it was presented to them. I'd have probably done the same if I'd been fortunate enough to be allocated a family house on a nice estate.

 

The Scottish government have made some changes to legislation, and I think they are sensible. RTB isn't applicable to new council properties, or to any new tenant. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/02/02164100/2

 

I think many housing workers (as I was) expected the RTB to be withdrawn during the term of the last Labour government, but it wasn't. Too much of a vote catcher perhaps?