Sale Of Council Houses

Question 1

What was a key aim of the thatcher gov?

Answer 1

-turn Br into a property owning democracy

Question 2

How did thatcher start to transform Britain into a property owning democracy?

Answer 2

-the Housing Act 1980 gave council tenants the right to buy their council house
-they received discount between 33-50% depending on how long they lived in the house

Question 3

What was the impact of this?

Answer 3

-by 1988 apron 2m new homeowners taken advantage of scheme to buy homes they previously rented

Question 4

What was the act a symbol of?

Answer 4

-the act soon became symbol of the success of Thatcherism

Question 5

What was the stance of the lab party on this aim of thatchers?

Answer 5

-initially opposed right to buy scheme
-but later dropped opposition as so popular with public - mainly in the south

Question 6

What were the negative consequences of the right to buy scheme?

Answer 6

-sale of council housing mainly in better off areas + not much of impact in less desirable places

Question 7

What were councils ordered to do?

Answer 7

-use profits from council houses to reduce debts + not build new council housing
-number of quality homes available for rent sharp,t reduced + waiting lists for rented homes longer

Question 8

What did this lack of housing lead to?

Answer 8

-many housed in emergency B&B accommodation
-was expensive for councils to provide + not always suitable for families involved