A TORY housing chief has welcomed the end of the right-to-buy scheme introduced by the Thatcher government.

Scottish Borders Conservative councillor Simon Mountford, who is the new chairman of the region’s largest social landlord, has welcomed the pending abolition of the scheme on August 1 this year.

He believes the discount scheme has prevented the Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) from satisfying the “overwhelming demand” for affordable housing.

The association currently has 5,300 properties but there are 7,300 people on its books who need rented homes.

Nearly 1,000 houses have been sold off through the right-to-buy scheme since the SBHA took over Scottish Borders Council’s rented homes in 2003, in what was then the largest transfer of stock in Scotland.

“Demand for SBHA homes continues to exceed supply and it is likely this will continue for the foreseeable future,” said Mountford. “In this context the Scottish Government’s decision to end tenants’ right to buy should be welcomed.”