02 June 2016
The controversial Housing and Planning Act 2016, which was passed last month, has been published. It extends the right to buy scheme to housing association tenants, enabling them to buy their homes at a discounted rate. Tenants of local housing authorities will be asked to provide proof of income or pay a maximum rent for “high income” tenants. The thresholds have not been set. Lifetime tenancies are to be replaced by fixed periods of two to ten years. Councils will be charged a levy for high-value empty stock, although the thresholds have not yet been announced.
