Sale of Council Houses Flashcards
What was a key aim of the Thatcher government?
To turn Britain into a property-owning democracy.
What did the Housing Act of 1980 do?
It gave council tenants the right to buy their council houses. They received a discount of between 33 and 50% depending on how long they had lived in the house.
What had happened by 1988?
Approximately 2 million new homeowners had taken advantage of the scheme to buy the homes they had previously rented. It became a symbol of the success of Thatcherism.
What was Labour initial stance on the Right to Buy scheme?
The Labour party initially opposed the Right to Buy scheme but later dropped its opposition because it was so popular with the public, particularly in the south of the country.
How did Right to Buy have negative consequences in terms of area?
The sale of council housing was predominantly in better-off areas and did not have a great impact in less desirable estates
How did Right to Buy have negative consequences in terms of profit?
Councils were ordered to use the profits from council house sales to reduce debts, not to build new council housing.
How did Right to Buy have negative consequences in terms of quality and quantity?
The number and quality of homes available for rent was sharply reduced and waiting lists for rented homes got longer.
How did Right to Buy have negative consequences in terms of emergency accommodation?
Many people were house in emergency B&B accommodation which was expensive for councils to provide and not always suitable for the families involved.
