THE Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed reports that Perth & Kinross Council is set to back the end of the Right to Buy for social housing (1).
Says a spokesperson: “The Scottish Government is currently consulting on whether to modernise or totally abolish the Right to Buy for all social housing (2).
“The SFHA is calling for abolition, to preserve scarce stock and resources in a time of economic difficulty and huge housing need (3).”
SFHA policy manager, Andy Young, said:
“There is a growing coalition of housing organisations calling for an end to the Right to Buy in Scotland and I am very pleased to hear Perth & Kinross Council will mostly likely add their voice to this.
“The Right to Buy is a policy which has outlived its usefulness, presents a threat to scarce housing stock, and, as new research shows, actually costs the public purse. Housing associations are under pressure as never before, due to the lack of finance to build new homes, a variety of extra demands on staff, as well as trying to meet huge housing need (4).
“That’s why the SFHA and others are calling for total abolition of the Right to Buy, to preserve valuable social rented housing, for which there is a huge demand.”
ENDS
For further information, contact Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6244 m: 07771926778 or e: cmunro@sfha.co.uk
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NOTES:
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-19208736
2) The Scottish Government’s consultation on further changes to the right to buy can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/7065
3) Why the SFHA wants to end the Right to Buy – read more on our website here http://www.sfha.co.uk/sfha/current-campaigns/right-to-buy/menu-id-292.html
4) There is a serious shortage of quality affordable housing across Scotland, with approximately 335,000 households on waiting lists. Statistics supplied to SFHA by the Scottish Housing Regulator (5 July 2011) based on data in the 2009-10 Annual Performance and Statistical Return.
5) The SFHA was established in 1975 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.
6) The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40 per cent of the country’s affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.
7) Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.
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Contact: Claire Munro
Email: cmunro@sfha.co.uk
Website: http://www.sfha.co.uk
