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| 'Right to buy' could be suspended | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Welsh Assembly Government could suspend the right to buy council homes as part of its bid to tackle the affordable housing shortfall. | |
| It intends to apply for powers from the UK government to suspend tenants' "right to buy" in some areas, such as in rural Wales. | |
| The stock of council homes in Wales has fallen by nearly half since the scheme was introduced in the 1980s. | |
| More than 80,000 people are on waiting lists for social housing in Wales. | |
| The aim is to ensure that people on modest incomes can still find houses to rent in the areas where they live. | The aim is to ensure that people on modest incomes can still find houses to rent in the areas where they live. |
| Currently, tenants have the right to buy their houses at discounts of up to £16,000. | |
| Rural communities | Rural communities |
| Deputy housing minister Jocelyn Davies said the assembly government had made a number of commitments to increase affordable housing as part of the One Wales coalition agreement. | |
| The Plaid AM for South Wales East said: "It is a problem that affects areas across Wales, but particularly our rural communities. | The Plaid AM for South Wales East said: "It is a problem that affects areas across Wales, but particularly our rural communities. |
| "In some communities few properties remain in the social housing stock, making it very difficult for people on modest incomes to find a home. | "In some communities few properties remain in the social housing stock, making it very difficult for people on modest incomes to find a home. |
| "I am confident that the steps we are taking now will make a considerable difference to the current situation." | "I am confident that the steps we are taking now will make a considerable difference to the current situation." |
| In the draft budget, the assembly government committed to spend £30m over three years to help meet the target of building 6,500 new affordable homes. | In the draft budget, the assembly government committed to spend £30m over three years to help meet the target of building 6,500 new affordable homes. |
| Schemes | Schemes |
| The request for the right to legislate - known as a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - will allow the assembly government to bring forward a measure to suspend the right-to-buy scheme on application from local councils in Wales. | The request for the right to legislate - known as a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - will allow the assembly government to bring forward a measure to suspend the right-to-buy scheme on application from local councils in Wales. |
| According to the assembly government, almost 60% of council housing stock in Powys and Ceredigion has been sold under the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes. | According to the assembly government, almost 60% of council housing stock in Powys and Ceredigion has been sold under the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes. |
| Since the introduction of the Right to Buy (in 1980) and the Right to Acquire (in 1997) over 140,000 houses have been purchased by tenants in Wales, almost half the original social housing stock. | Since the introduction of the Right to Buy (in 1980) and the Right to Acquire (in 1997) over 140,000 houses have been purchased by tenants in Wales, almost half the original social housing stock. |
| In 1980, there were around 300,000 homes in council ownership, now, that is down to around 156,000. | In 1980, there were around 300,000 homes in council ownership, now, that is down to around 156,000. |