On 28 April, the Government confirmed that it will bring forward reforms to the Right to Buy in line with the proposals on which it consulted last year.  These will include:

• Increasing the minimum eligibility period from three to ten years before tenants can apply to buy their home.
• Amending discount rules so that discounts start at 5% of the property value and increase by 1% each year up to the maximum discount of 15% of the property value or the cash cap (whichever is lower).
• A 35-year new build exemption period so new social homes cannot be sold under Right to Buy for 35 years after they are built.

The government also said it has been undertaking further work to explore more effective fraud prevention to mitigate vulnerable tenants being pressured into buying and reviewing how the Right to Buy scheme applies in rural areas.

The reforms require primary legislation which the Government says it will bring forward “as soon as Parliamentary time allows”.  Bills for consideration in the next Parliamentary session will be announced in the King’s Speech following the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May.  There is, however, no reference to Right to Buy reform in the House of Commons Library summary of legislation expected to be included in the Kings Speech.