Title

FINANCE

Social housing to lose nearly 60,000 homes

Social housing in England will lose a further 57,000 homes by the end of the decade because of the Right to Buy scheme, according to new analysis.

Social housing in England will lose a further 57,000 homes by the end of the decade because of the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme, according to new analysis by local government leaders.

The analysis estimated that 100,000 homes are likely to be sold through the scheme by 2030, but only 43,000 will be replaced as significant discounts councils have to give buyers leave them without the funding to replace the much-needed homes on a like-for-like basis.

A report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), the Association of Retained Council Housing and the National Federation of Arm's-Length Management Organisations warned that, with the discounts expected to increase by a further 10.1% from April, it will become even harder for councils to deliver replacements.

The LGA urged the Government to use the Budget to allow councils to agree discounts locally and retain 100% of sales receipts.

LGA housing spokesperson David Renard said: ‘It is becoming impossible for councils to replace homes as quickly as they're being sold as they are being left with nowhere near enough money to provide replacements.

‘Rising RTB discounts mean that one household's home ownership is increasingly being prioritised over another's access to secure, safe, social housing.'

FINANCE

Exclusive: Cleverly criticises Labour's 'short term fixes'

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

The shadow local government secretary has accused Labour of leaving councils with ‘short term fixes', identifying asylum hotels as a key area ‘showing strain'.

FINANCE

Beyond winning and losing: leadership lessons for LGR

By Max Wide | 01 October 2025

Max Wide explores the leadership choices posed by reorganisation and reflects on how collaboration, cultural integration and private sector insights can help...

FINANCE

Dear secretary of state – part 2

By Steve Leach | 01 October 2025

As the new secretary of state Steve Reed settles into his new role, Steve Leach and Colin Copus tell him that now is not a good time for a ‘disruptive, expen...

FINANCE

Lambeth housing supply squeeze

By Martin Ford | 30 September 2025

Lambeth LBC faces a squeeze on its supply of housing due to Right to Buy (RtB) changes, officers have warned.

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead