Right-To-Buy Will Be “Disastrous” For Rural Communities

An academic specialising in rural housing issues has warned that the Government’s Right-to-Buy housing policies will have an “especially disastrous” impact on rural communities. “There is already a shortage of affordable housing, especially in rural areas where there is little social housing,” said Professor Mark Shucksmith ONE, director of the Newcastle University Institute for Social Renewal.  “Rural house prices are on average 26% higher than in urban areas, and the ratio of house prices to local earnings is even worse. Disposing of housing association stock, at great cost to the taxpayer, will make the impact on rural communities much more serious.. With housing association properties sold off, and unlikely to be replaced in any substantial quantities, the wealth divide in rural communities will deepen even further.” Read more on the Housing Excellence website.