Tories slam right to buy cuts

THE TORIES have slammed the Government's slashing of the Right to Buy discount in Waltham Forest.

The party says it would not only extend the scheme if handed power, but would also buy an extra 1,500 new council properties to help ease the housing shortage.

This would be done by allowing housing association tenants to to purchase their homes. One third to a half of the money raised could then be ploughed back into purchasing new council homes, the Tories claim.

Walthamstow Conservative Chairman John Moss said: "Nearly two million families now enjoy the security that comes from owning their home because of Right To Buy - and the Conservative Party's policy is to extend this security to housing association tenants as well.

"Our policy would see 15,000 new homes built nationally every year from the money raised. And these would be made available to those on waiting lists and in temporary accommodation.

"In Waltham Forest, this would mean nearly 9,500 housing association tenants would become eligible to buy their homes. If a third of them took up the offer, and this was how many bought their council homes under the old scheme, that would raise enough money to buy 1,500 new homes.

"Labour clamping down on the Right To Buy will simply lock existing tenants into their property and will do nothing for vulnerable people."

The Conservatives have been angered by news that the Government is to slash the discount available to people purchasing their homes under Right To Buy in London from £38,000 to £16,000. For some this would mean the cost of buying their home would rise by £22,000.

The change won the backing of the local Labour group, which argued that the old system was frequently abused by people who would buy their homes and then sell them on at a massive profit.

It also argued that the loss of council property was diminishing the housing stock and adding to the wait for council homes - which has already reached a staggering 70 years.

Labour spokesman Simon Wright said: "This just shows the Tories haven't learnt anything. They forced the sale of council housing, which caused the severe shortages we are experiencing. And now they want to do the same with housing association property.

"The Government is doing the right thing to make sure we have social housing for those most in need."

16:34 Monday 27th January 2003

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