Housing associations in Northern Ireland have voiced fears that new right-to-buy regulations for Housing Executive properties will apply to them, reducing their stock and rental income.
Under the rules, which came in this week, there will be a maximum right-to-buy discount of £34,000 and tenants must live in their homes for two years before they can buy them.

Previously there was no maximum discount and occupants could apply to purchase their house the day after signing the tenancy agreement.

Housing associations are worried that, if applied to them, the rules could fuel sales in high-demand areas. It is also feared smaller associations that lose a lot of their stock might have trouble renegotiating loans.

Graham Murton, housing policy and research officer at the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, said: "In theory it does not apply to housing associations but in practice it will be used as a yardstick for housing sales policy.

"If there is to be a sales policy for housing associations, we would like to see a further review which takes into account needs of housing associations. The executive has tailored this policy for its own stock and we need one tailored for housing associations."

He said the federation supported right to buy but wanted to "strike a balance between those on the waiting list and tenants' aspirations to purchase".

But Robina Goodlad, professor of housing and urban studies at Glasgow University, said the new legislation merely tightened up existing rules on sales of the executive's properties. She said: "It will not make more than a miniscule difference to sales levels and simply delay a very small number."

Housing Executive chief executive Paddy McIntyre said: "We have accepted that it is not possible to please everyone."

Source

Housing Today