MP Calls On Watchdog to Probe Right to Buy

A Labour MP has written to parliamentary spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) to call for an investigation into the Right to Buy. Former housing minister John Healey has contacted the NAO outlining concerns about the policy, which he says ‘risks becoming a severe failure of ministers to achieve value for money in public spending’. Mr Healey has estimated, using assumptions about homes sold and how many are likely to be subsequently let privately, that the policy will lead to £1.5bn being added to the housing benefit bill over 30 years. This is because of replacement homes being let at more expensive ‘affordable rents’ and homes sold under the Right to Buy being let privately. Read more on Inside Housing.