Conservative peers have proposed radical changes to the Housing Bill as it passes through the House of Lords.

One would force councils to produce a “marketing plan for right to buy”, which would include a sales target.

Another would ban right to buy sales of homes built under planning gain agreements, in which developers build social housing in return for planning permission, for 25 years.

A National Housing Federation spokeswoman said: “At a time when many areas are struggling under high or rising right to buy sales, these proposals do concern us.

“We’d question whether setting a sales target would help affordability in urban and rural areas, whether high or low demand.”

A clause on Gypsies and Travellers is expected to be added to the bill this week. It would allow owners of Gypsy and Traveller sites to apply to become registered social landlords.

It would also allow the Housing Corporation to provide social housing grants to existing RSLs to manage and provide sites (HT 30 July, page 9).

Source

Housing Today