Portable Discounts Could Slow Right To Buy

A lack of detail surrounding plans for portable discounts could slow the introduction of the government’s flagship extension of the Right to Buy to housing association tenants. Under the ‘voluntary’ Right to Buy extension, housing associations will be allowed to exclude certain properties from the scheme at their discretion. This is likely to include hundreds of thousands of homes built under Section 106 agreements, homes in rural areas and socially rented properties funded by historic charitable trusts. Tenants living in these properties will qualify for ‘portable discounts’ which will allow them to buy another housing association property elsewhere- an aspect of the scheme which has not been piloted. Read more on Inside Housing.

Associations Face Losing Charity Status

Charity Commission tells providers to seek legal advice on implications of charging 80 per cent rent. Housing associations risk losing their charitable status if they implement the government’s new affordable rent regime. This is the stark warning issued to the 1,236 charitable housing associations in England and Wales by regulator the Charity Commission. It said each association should seek legal advice about whether introducing the regime will affect its charitable status. The affordable model will see new tenants charged up to 80 per cent of market rent on their homes. The commission has advised associations to look at the extent to which homes rented at affordable rates will relieve poverty. Read more on Inside Housing.