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Older council tenants to receive up to £30,000 in government plan to buy home elsewhere | Older council tenants to receive up to £30,000 in government plan to buy home elsewhere |
(35 minutes later) | |
Social housing tenants could be offered tens of thousands in cash to abandon secure tenancies in favour of buying properties on the open market – with ‘older people’ getting priority. | |
Up to £30,000 in a one-off payment will be offered to each eligible household in the new government scheme as an alternative to Right to Buy in England. | Up to £30,000 in a one-off payment will be offered to each eligible household in the new government scheme as an alternative to Right to Buy in England. |
Those renting from London councils could receive up to the full amount and up to £20,000 is to be offered to tenants elsewhere, in plans set to cost £84 million over two years. | Those renting from London councils could receive up to the full amount and up to £20,000 is to be offered to tenants elsewhere, in plans set to cost £84 million over two years. |
Older tenants and those who feel they need to move to secure a job are to be given priority in applying for the cash to select the home they want to buy, the government said. | |
Also those who are eligible to buy their council home under Right to Buy but do not live in a property suitable enough for their needs to purchase it are also targeted by the scheme. | Also those who are eligible to buy their council home under Right to Buy but do not live in a property suitable enough for their needs to purchase it are also targeted by the scheme. |
The maximum discounts for Right to Buy – which has attributed to the depletion of much-needed housing stock since its introduction under the previous Tory government in the 1980s – stand at £102,700 in London and £77,000 elsewhere. | The maximum discounts for Right to Buy – which has attributed to the depletion of much-needed housing stock since its introduction under the previous Tory government in the 1980s – stand at £102,700 in London and £77,000 elsewhere. |
The proposal issued yesterday says: “The Government wants to help tenants trapped in social housing as a result of these barriers to access home ownership.” | The proposal issued yesterday says: “The Government wants to help tenants trapped in social housing as a result of these barriers to access home ownership.” |
Those 'trapped' in council housing in London would get up to £30k (Getty) It is not yet known whether new tenants of vacated council properties would be renting under the same secure tenancy terms as the previous occupiers. | Those 'trapped' in council housing in London would get up to £30k (Getty) It is not yet known whether new tenants of vacated council properties would be renting under the same secure tenancy terms as the previous occupiers. |
Flexible tenancies lasting up to two or five years have been replacing some secure agreements since 2012. | Flexible tenancies lasting up to two or five years have been replacing some secure agreements since 2012. |
People over the age of 55 already make up nearly half of those residing in social housing, according to figures by English Housing Survey. | People over the age of 55 already make up nearly half of those residing in social housing, according to figures by English Housing Survey. |
Also, the so-called Bedroom Tax only affects tenants of working age who claim housing benefit and does not currently affect those who are pensioners. | Also, the so-called Bedroom Tax only affects tenants of working age who claim housing benefit and does not currently affect those who are pensioners. |
Earlier this month, Iain Duncan Smith suggested letting out-of-work housing benefits claimants own their home for free if they hold down a job for at least a year. | Earlier this month, Iain Duncan Smith suggested letting out-of-work housing benefits claimants own their home for free if they hold down a job for at least a year. |
Under Mr Duncan Smith’s proposal – described as “daft” by the chief executive of the National Housing Federation – tenants would no longer be eligible for housing benefit and would have to pay 35 per cent of the house price in tax if it is sold within three years. | |
Local authorities are invited to submit bids by 18 March to provide the “Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund” over the course of two years. | Local authorities are invited to submit bids by 18 March to provide the “Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund” over the course of two years. |