Communities Secretary Greg Clark appeared to have quietly
backed down to housing associations on “Right to Buy”. Furious Housing
Association fat cats were opposing giving tenants the chance to own their own
homes because they argued they were being forced to sell their assets at a
discount. Following negotiations and heavy lobbying over the summer, Clark has now
said he is considering their new offer to ‘voluntarily’ introduce the
extension, ensuring market rate sales with discounts to tenants subsidised by
the government. This looks like a complete cave in and effectively a U-turn on
a manifesto promise. If landlords only have to sell to tenants on a voluntary
basis, tenants won’t have a ‘right’ to buy, landlords will have an “Option to
Sell”. Read more on the Guido Fawkes website.
