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Letter to Media - Response to Conservative pledge on home ownership - April 2015 - Printable Version +- LIBERAL TALK (http://talk.liberal.org.uk) +--- Thread: Letter to Media - Response to Conservative pledge on home ownership - April 2015 (/showthread.php?tid=34) |
Letter to Media - Response to Conservative pledge on home ownership - April 2015 - ReadingLib - 12-20-2015 We in the Liberal Party have read through the Conservatives manifesto pledge to extend home ownership under the right to buy scheme to a substantial number of private housing associations tenants. What is none too clear from media reports is how the Conservatives intend to replace the depleted housing stock,the level of compulsion applied to private housing associations to sell, and the rights of those who chose not to participate or can't obtain even a modest mortgage. The damage to the finances of the current Housing Associations budgets would be irresponsible if they were forced to sell properties at the level of discount envisaged by the government without full and fair compensation. Home ownership is not for everybody, and carries with it an open ended commitment to maintenance which does not suit everybody and there will always be those who's low wages or social circumstances precludes home ownership. A stock of affordable homes and council housing will always been needed, no more so than today, where the bedroom tax has driven many into the private rental market, that many can ill afford. Many of the south east authorities can not house low paid and key skills employees. The estimated cost of the right to buy scheme, suggested to be in the region of 6 billion pounds, could be equally spend on refurbishing the excessive number of properties, possible in excess of 800000, which are currently empty and represent an unrealised source of desperately needed homes. |