Helping survivors keep their home
The latest amendment to the Bill will strengthen landlords’ powers to take possession action against perpetrators without requiring survivors to leave first and provide a mechanism to transfer a joint tenancy into the survivor’s sole name. Where staying is inappropriate, courts could arrange for suitable alternative social housing to be offered without loss of tenancy security.
More time before social homes can be sold
Private registered providers, including housing associations, will have to notify the relevant council and other local private registered providers before selling homes outside the social housing sector, allowing them time to consider if they want to buy the property.
There would be an eight-week period after notification before a sale could complete, during which marketing and sale preparations could continue.
Propertymark has consistently supported reforms that slow the loss of council homes and give local authorities greater confidence to invest in new supply. When homes leave the social sector faster than they are replaced, lower-income households are pushed into the private rented sector, increasing demand, adding pressure on rents, and making it harder for agents and landlords to support vulnerable tenants. Our members have reported intense competition for available rental homes, with demand outstripping supply in many areas.
Right to Buy changes could affect future sales
The qualifying tenancy period for Right to Buy will increase from three to ten years, percentage discounts will reduce, and newly built social and affordable homes will be exempt for 35 years.
Councils will have an extended right of first refusal when former Right to Buy homes are resold so that it applies indefinitely, and the discount repayment period will increase from five to ten years.
Changes to housing management and allocations
The UK Government also proposes simplifying the social housing Right to Manage, which allows council tenants to take responsibility for services such as repairs and maintenance via a Tenant Management Organisation.
These organisations will come under Freedom of Information rules from April 2027, covering information about repairs, estate management, and rent collection.
