Greens plan to fight back against Right to Buy and build hundreds of new council homes

Facing the challenges of a national housing crisis, Greens criticise Right to Buy and showcase their solutions

The Right to Buy Scheme was introduced by Thatcher’s Government and continued under both Labour and Conservative governments since. It is well-known for how it has allowed council properties to be bought up; property prices have subsequently skyrocketed. In subsequent decades, the country has fallen into a prolonged housing crisis. In Brighton & Hove, the situation is much the same as elsewhere. In the city, Green Party candidates are offering a path forward that challenges this crisis.

This election, they are proposing to replace council houses lost to “Right to Buy” by buying back properties for let at truly affordable rents based on average local incomes. Greens will also deliver 800 new, affordable and energy efficient council homes by 2028, in line with the Council’s New Build Housing Sustainability Policy, to mitigate the lack of housing forced by Right to Buy.

Greens have also made clear that by doing this, they will be reducing reliance on the private sector, and also plan to introduce licences for landlords to regulate negligence and malpractice from landlords towards their renters.

Lynn-Ora Knott (she/her), Green Party candidate for Kemptown said:

“Greens are the party leading the fight against the housing crisis. We have already built 497 council homes and we’ll build more in the next year, becoming the biggest provider of affordable rented homes across the city.

“There’s still so much to do, from replacing council houses lost to right to buy to building hundreds more houses. And for both these new and old homes, we will continue to facilitate warmer homes which simultaneously create jobs, cut bills and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.”