Public Consultation Supports The End To Right To Buy In Cardiff
An application to Welsh Government to suspend the Right to Buy in Cardiff to help tackle the city’s growing housing need will be considered by Cabinet next week.
The public consultation carried out at the end of last year showed considerable support for the proposal with 57.2% of respondents agreeing, 30.4% disagreeing and 12.5% unsure. The Cabinet are now recommended to proceed with the application to the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary.
Currently, most council and housing association tenants have the right to buy their home after five years and receive a discount of £8,000 on the value. The proposal if accepted by the Welsh Government will suspend this right for five years.
The council’s social housing stock has decreased from 23,000 homes in 1985 to 13,807 due mostly to Right to Buy sales.
But with 8,300 applicants on the housing waiting list – 4,600 of whom have a significant housing need, and a total of 10,120 affordable homes needed in the city over the next five years, the Council is keen to prevent losing any more social housing.
Cabinet Member for Health, Housing and Wellbeing, Cllr Susan Elsmore, said: “We had a very good response to the recent consultation on suspending the Right to Buy with nearly 2,800 responses from a wide range of individuals. It was good to see the high level of support for the proposal. With a growing need for affordable housing in the city and many people in temporary or unsuitable accommodation, it is essential that we retain our existing stock to ensure that affordable homes are available for those who need them.”
Cabinet will consider the results of the consultation at its February 16 meeting and if agreed, the application to Welsh Government will be submitted.
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