Decision details

Suspending the Right to Buy

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 enables local housing authorities to apply to the Welsh Government for a direction to suspend the Right to Buy/Acquire in areas of housing pressure for a period of up to five years. Cardiff has significant housing need with over 10,000 households on the waiting list and a shortage of new properties being built. 

 

Applications to purchase council properties under the Right to Buy have been increasing and over the past 2 years the council has received 153 applications with 37 properties being purchased.

 

Welsh Ministers have announced that they will be bringing forward primary legislation to remove the Right to Buy/Acquire next year however following that there will be a notice period of up to 2 years to allow tenants to purchase if they wish. This will encourage more people to apply to purchase their council properties depleting the social housing stock even further.

 

The report is proposing that Cardiff submits an application to the Welsh Minister for a direction to suspend the Right to Buy/Acquire across Cardiff.

 

Decision:

RESOLVED; that

 

1.                            the issues set out in this report be noted and it be agreed that public consultation take place on the proposal to apply for a suspension of Right to Buy/Acquire.

 

2.                            a further report setting out the results of the consultation and proposed way forward be brought to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

 

Reasons for the decision:

1.            Cardiff has a very high housing need for affordable housing, and in order to assist in meeting this Cardiff Council and its Registered Social Landlord partners are developing new affordable housing. The loss of affordable homes through the Right to Buy will undermine the investment to increase affordable stock.

 

2.            The Cabinet is being asked to agree the consultation proposals set out in this report to inform whether to make an application to suspend the Right to Buy for council and Registered Social Landlords tenants across Cardiff.

 

Other reasons / organisations consulted

As part of the Application process consultation will need to be undertaken with a range of stakeholders. This includes council tenants, RSLs and their tenants, other surrounding Local Authorities and any other interested parties.

 

Publication date: 14/11/2016

Date of decision: 10/11/2016

Decided at meeting: 10/11/2016 - Cabinet

Effective from: 24/11/2016

Accompanying Documents: