Latest figures from DLUHC have shown that Southwark lost 115 council homes to Right to Buy scheme in 2022/2023, yet used the proceeds of those sales to acquire just 34.
The data revealed that Southwark had 4th highest number of right to buy sales in London and the 3rd highest difference between loss and replacements.
Under Right to Buy rules, tenants are able to buy their homes off the council under certain criteria and discounts. But until recently, councils could only spend up to 40% of right to buy receipts on replacing that stock.
In a concession to a long running Liberal Democrat campaign, the government introduced a 100% retention, with the caveat that it is just for 2 years from 2022, and with various strings attached that especially affect councils in London.
With the impact that this is having locally, the Southwark Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to make the change permanent as well as addressing the difficulties that London councils are facing.
This data was published just a few days before Southwark’s Housing Director, Michael Scorer, announced his resignation. Leader of the Southwark Lib Dems has made a statement calling for him to be replaced as soon as possible in order to get control of Southwark’s numerous and major housing crises.
Southwark Lib Dem housing spokesperson Cllr Emily Tester said, “The Council needs to ditch the spin. It has already been exposed for under delivering on their promises to build new council homes, and now it has to face the facts that they’ve lost more council homes than they’ve acquired with right to buy proceeds.
The Southwark Liberal Democrats are demanding the government permanently extend the 100% retention of right to buy receipts – as well as abolishing the extra rules that apply to councils in London.
“It’s clear that the Tories aren’t taking the housing crisis seriously, but Southwark Labour need to demonstrate they are also committed to reducing our 17,000 homes waiting list.”
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