HOUSING associations have welcomed the end of the right to buy policy in Scotland after more than 30 years.
MSPs voted in 2014 to scrap the scheme, introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s.
Right to buy has been blamed for a shortage of housing in the social rental sector and a deadline of two years was given for council and housing association tenants to apply to buy their property.
Shelter Scotland said more than half a million social homes were sold off under right to buy, and for every three homes sold only one was built in replacement.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said that the end of right to buy had come “not a moment too soon”.
The SFHA and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) have long campaigned for the policy to be curbed or scrapped.
According to the groups, some social landlords saw an increase in the number of applications from tenants wishing to exercise their right to buy before Sunday’s deadline.
Mary Taylor, SFHA chief executive, said: “Right to buy has had its day and has no place in modern Scotland.
“Although particular individuals have benefited from the right to buy and at significant discounts, the sales have been at a loss to the greater public good.
“Half a million social-rented homes have been lost over the three decades of this policy in Scotland, and very often the better stock in the more popular areas.
“By ending the right to buy, we will be able to preserve much-needed social housing stock for rent that is affordable to people on low incomes.”
Tony Cain, policy manager at ALACHO, said: “Ending the right to buy will allow social landlords to plan longer term, manage assets and income more effectively and, most importantly, to invest to increase the number of social-rented homes for the first time since 1981.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here