§ 55. Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the HOTCHA scheme, which provides opportunities for house purchase for tenants of housing association properties.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations was introduced in September 1984 to help tenants who would have had the right to buy but for the charitable status of their landlords. Tenants assisted under the scheme receive discounts, funded by housing association grant, on the purchase of homes on the open market. Over 5,000 properties have been purchased at discounts totalling some £80 million. Because demand outstrips the resources available a waiting list has been in force since 1 October 1986. At the end of December 1987 2,645 applications were being held. A further £19 million has been allocated for the scheme for 1988–89 to cover outstanding purchases set in hand before 1 October 1986 and a proportion of the applications received since that date. Applications received up to 31 May 1987 will now be allowed to proceed.