Flurry of applications as change to right-to-buy discount delayed

The government has missed its target to introduce right-to-buy discounts, as the number of applications continues to soar.

The changes – which will see the maximum discounts reduced from £38,000 to £16,000 across 42 local authorities in London and the South-east – were announced by deputy prime minister John Prescott in January, and are set to begin on 5 March.

However, the secondary legislation required to effect the changes seemed unlikely to appear before today [7 March] at the earliest.

It will take a further three weeks for the plans to pass through both Houses of Parliament – provided they attract no opposition.

Councils reported large numbers of tenants have contacted them for advice about the right to buy or application forms since Prescott's statement in January.

Wandsworth council in south London has received about 750 applications since the end of January. In Westminster, central London, the total number of applications for February was 350 – 10 times the usual average for the month.

The delay in making the changes comes after councils requested more time to consider whether to object to the proposals.

Westminster and Wandsworth are among a number of authorities waiting to hear if Prescott will heed their appeals to be exempt from the changes. Spelthorne council in Surrey has submitted a similar request.

Greenwich, south-east London, has petitioned the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to be included among the 42 local authorities where the restrictions will apply.

In some cases local authorities were not informed directly. In Spelthorne's case a letter informing them of the changes was sent solely to the local post-transfer social landlord, who had taken over the council's stock. Ian Murray, Spelthorne's head of housing, said the ODPM had since encouraged the authority to respond.

Gwyneth Taylor, London Government Association programme manager, said: "The government hasn't covered itself in glory with its handling of the changes."

Lewisham council has warned tenants to be on their guard against private companies that charge as much as £3000 to handle right-to-buy applications. The warning follows increased advertising by these companies.