Social housing has emerged as a major issue in the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament elections set for 1 May, with parties clashing over the right to buy, regeneration bodies and antisocial behaviour.
The sector is not as prominent in the manifestos for England's council elections, where the fight focuses on council tax and public services.

In Wales, a Labour party spokesperson said the decent homes target and its aim of keeping Welsh-speaking people living in the rural heartlands had pushed housing up the agenda. If re-elected, the party would suspend the discount on council house purchases in designated high-pressure areas. The Welsh Conservative party, by contrast, would extend the right to buy to include housing association properties and reverse the cut in discounts. The party would also let councils borrow for capital projects if they are managing their housing stock effectively and to encourage transfer.

The Liberal Democrats' Welsh manifesto pledges to extend the Homebuy low-cost homeownership scheme. In some areas, the upper limit on Homebuy would be extended.

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party hopes to win votes with a plan to abolish the regeneration body Communities Scotland and give its powers to local authorities. The SNP says this could save £96m.

The SNP plans to abolish Communities Scotland and give its powers to local authorities

But David Bookbinder, policy officer at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said local authorities would not be able to fulfil Communities Scotland's regulatory function.

The Scottish Conservatives have pledged to encourage the transfer of all council houses to community ownership and management, while the Labour party is emphasising its fight for safer streets.

Source

Housing Today