Scrap Right to Buy, says Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

The SFHA argued that the model is not in the "greater public good", in response to a consultation www.scotland.gov.uk/consultrtbscotlan by the Scottish Government which sought views on whether to move those on the Preserved Right to Buy onto the less generous Modernised Right to Buy, or to end Right to Buy altogether.

"It is the view of the SFHA and its members that Right to Buy has had its day and has no place in 21st Century Scotland," said Andy Young, SFHA policy and membership manager. "It has been beneficial to a relatively small number of individuals, but in our view a loss to the greater public good."

The social rented sector in Scotland has lost almost half a million properties to RTB sales since its introduction in 1980, according to the SFHA.

"Scottish people did not generally vote for the introduction of the policy back in 1980 and the Scottish Government now has an opportunity to use its devolved powers to decide once and for all the fate of Right to Buy," said Young.

"It is our view that it would be beneficial for all concerned for this to be done in as transparent and decisive a way as possible. We therefore urge the Scottish Government to give notice to all those tenants with the Right to Buy that the scheme will be abolished in one year's time," he said.

The Highland Council has also called on the Scottish Government to scrap the model, in response to the consultation. The Council has lost 57% of its housing stock to Right to Buy sales since 1981, which equates to 15,244 homes.

"There is a chronic and persistent lack of social rented housing in Highland which is projected to persist in the future," said Councillor Dave Fallows at the Council, according to local reports. "Pressures are not diminishing and are expected to increase with the changes to homelessness duties and the effects of welfare reforms.”