HC Deb 23 November 1979 vol 974 cc388-9W
Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any firm and quantifiable evidence to suggest that controlled and regulated tenants of private rented accommodation wish to purchase their property.

Mr. Stanley

I know of no survey evidence about the number of tenants renting from private landlords who would wish to buy the houses in which they live. But between 1971 and 1976 such evidence as is available points to an average of 20,000 to 25,000 households a year buying their houses as sitting tenants from private landlords.