§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend right-to-buy legislation to include all housing association tenants; and if he will make a statement. [9799]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Housing Act 1996 introduced the right to acquire for housing association tenants. It applies to tenants of housing newly provided by registered social landlords with social housing grant on or after 1 April 1997, and to tenants of stock transferred from other public landlords on or after that date. The scheme is similar to the right-to-buy.
For tenants of existing stock, the voluntary purchase grant scheme, introduced on 1 April 1996, enables them to buy their home at a discount. Associations opt into this scheme at their discretion.
Secure tenants of non-charitable housing associations, that is those who took up their tenancies before 1989, generally have the right to buy their homes under part V of the Housing Act 1985.
We have no plans to change this position.