Minister acts to protect Wales’ social housing

The Welsh Government is taking action on the Right to Buy in order to protect Wales’ social housing, following a consultation which showed support for the plans.

Earlier this year, the Minister with responsibility for housing, Lesley Griffiths, published a White Paper setting out her intention to end the Right to Buy and halve the maximum discount available to people who want to buy their council house to £8,000.

The consultation revealed 76% of respondents – including Local Authorities, housing associations and social housing tenants – supported the reduction of the maximum sales discount and 63% were in favour of developing legislation to end the Right to Buy.

94% of respondents believed the Welsh Government should help people whose needs could not be met by the housing market, while three quarters of respondents felt action should be taken to protect Wales’ social housing stock.

After considering the responses to the consultation, the Minister is taking immediate action to reduce the discount this summer and has started the development of legislation to end Right to Buy, for consideration by the Government in the next Assembly term.

The Minister is taking this action to stop further reductions in Wales’ social housing stock, which has suffered from a 45% reduction in the number of properties available since the policy was first introduced in 1981.

Lesley Griffiths said:

“I am pleased key voices in the housing sector, including tenants, participated in the consultation and had their say on this important issue. The consultation on our proposals has brought to the fore some interesting views on Wales’ housing needs and demonstrated people’s support for protecting our social housing stock.

“The decisive action we are taking will go some way towards easing the pressure on our housing supply and protecting our social housing stock. This is in addition to our £400 million investment in affordable homes through our Social Housing Grant.”