§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have sought and received on the effective long-term future management of local authority flats and maisonettes in the light of the known and probable effects of right-to-buy and tenants' choice policies; and in particular whether they have already consulted or will consult the Institute of Housing, the Housing Centre Trust and the Town and Country Planning Association.
The Earl of CaithnessTenants of local authority flats and maisonettes have had since 1980 the right to buy their homes on long leases as in the private sector. Further formal consultation seems unnecessary at this point. Where blocks of flats transfer to new landlords under tenants' choice, the new landlords will become the freeholders of the blocks with responsibility for managing them, leases being granted to the local authority in respect of flats whose secure tenants did not choose to have a new landlord. Explanatory material on these arrangements has been made available for comment at various times to a wide range of interested parties, including those mentioned by the noble Lord.