Extension of Right To Buy Scheme

[poppet2 13]

A word of warning to people thinking of RTB whether council or housing Association.

Many councils are charging up to £14k service charges which have put future BTL tenants off. Every time a lift needs servicing, communal lawns need mowing, the estate boilers need servicing, radiators and double glazing need renewing, roofing needs inspecting, painting and decorating and graffiti doing, etc. As a private tenant, you now cop the lot. Many have had to move as a result of these extortionate annual charges if you buy from an estate.

[psynuk 10]

One of the problems face by people living in council housing and wishing to purchase an house in the private sector is that they can not afford to save up for a deposit whilst paying rent.

The right to buy scheme overcomes this problem.

 

That same problem is faced by people who live in a non-council house, only those people are paying a non subsidised rent, and have to pay the going rate to buy.

The right to buy scheme does not overcome those realities.

[harvey19 541]

That same problem is faced by people who live in a non-council house, only those people are paying a non subsidised rent, and have to pay the going rate to buy.

The right to buy scheme does not overcome those realities.

 

Isn't there something called Sitting Tenant where a tenant can buy at a reduced price if a private landlord is willing to sell to the tenant ?

Ref. your above point the government is helping those that it can.

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

Isn't there something called Sitting Tenant where a tenant can buy at a reduced price if a private landlord is willing to sell to the tenant ?

No, that's not what 'sitting tenant' means. The expression instead refers to a person (T) who occupies as tenant of an existing landlord (L1) when L1 sells the property to a new landlord (L2). L2 takes-over the rights and responsibilities.

 

And, as for RTB on Housing Association properties, how would you overcome the fact that most HAs are also charities?

Do you advocate asset-stripping the charities? Does Conservative Party policy?

[Olive 10]

I can't believe the Conservatives imagine this could be a vote winner. It's bizarre. I was under the impression that over the years a consensus has developed, even amongst voters on the right, that the old right to buy was mistake in the long term.

 

It's like they're piddling about whilst Rome burns - a national housing shortage, house prices way beyond the means of the lower paid, and this is the best they can come up with?

[harvey19 541]

No, that's not what 'sitting tenant' means. The expression instead refers to a person (T) who occupies as tenant of an existing landlord (L1) when L1 sells the property to a new landlord (L2). L2 takes-over the rights and responsibilities.

 

And, as for RTB on Housing Association properties, how would you overcome the fact that most HAs are also charities?

Do you advocate asset-stripping the charities? Does Conservative Party policy?

 

Maybe the Housing Associations want to get rid of their older property which needs increasing repairs and modernisation. and therefore save on these costs.

Is the Sutton Trust one of the associations that you refer to ?

[Mister M 1,608]

No, that's not what 'sitting tenant' means. The expression instead refers to a person (T) who occupies as tenant of an existing landlord (L1) when L1 sells the property to a new landlord (L2). L2 takes-over the rights and responsibilities.

And, as for RTB on Housing Association properties, how would you overcome the fact that most HAs are also charities?

Do you advocate asset-stripping the charities? Does Conservative Party policy?

 

That's a very good point Jeffrey.

And from what I gather the Housing Associations themselves would challenge the legality of the Conservative proposal:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/housing-associations-say-theyll-sue-if-the-tories-force-them-to-sell-off-homes-under-right-to-buy-10175492.html

[apelike 10]

The difference being ?

 

I don't usually play dictionary wars but in this case...

 

A subsidy; is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (or institution, business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy.

 

A discount; a deduction from the usual cost of something.

 

 

It is most definitely a subsidy (in the form of a discount if it pleases you)

 

Nah, as before its a discount and nothing like a subsidy.

 

More importantly it is an unequal sharing of the tax pot,

 

No its not. That tax pot as you call it gets passed on to taxpayers in other ways so everybody benefits.

 

As stated the current Help to Buy scheme is a subsidy and that's where you are getting ripped off as its costing taxpayers £billions. New buyers can now have their mortgage subsidised by the taxpayer when others before didn't, that's the unfair bit.

 

What you need to understand is that the RTB was a deliberate piece of social engineering. Now because of the lack of social housing it forces people to buy privately thus getting them into long term debt. When people are in long term debt then they are more liable to accept austerity measures, stagnant wages, overtime with no pay etc as now their home is at risk. In social housing it was not a problem, people could go on strike and still live in their social home. Owning a home also creates a middle class that is now more liable to vote Tory.

 

The biggest problem in this country is that the country and its people are in long term debt.

[sheff1johnny 10]

Could the housing associations just refuse to sell? Right to buy is not good really, as it leads to less and less social housing which in turns increases rents.

[apelike 10]

A word of warning to people thinking of RTB whether council or housing Association.

Many councils are charging up to £14k service charges which have put future BTL tenants off.

 

Can you give details of a council doing that?

 

Council service charges have to be reasonable and clearly laid out before purchase of the leasehold. There is also a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal that can be used to determine whether the charges are fair.

[Alan Ladd 10]

Its a great idea, as is the one about flattening the Moor and building a massive council estate.

 

Certain vote winner, for Cameron. Its in the bag.

[The Joker 10]

This right-to-buy scheme is a great idea!

 

Why don't we extend it to privately-renting tenants too?

 

They have just as much right to own their home as council and housing association tenants do.