THURROCK’S top councillor for housing has praised a scheme which could see 50 families move out of their council home, buy their own, and not diminish the number of council homes available.
Cllr Lynn Worrall introduced the item on “Right to Buy, Social Mobility Fund” at Wednesday (10 June) evening’s cabinet meeting.
She said: “The government invited councils to submit bids for a local scheme with a one-off cash payment of up to £20,000 to enable eligible tenants to buy a home on the open market in place of their Right to Buy discount.
“It means tenants will have extra options when it comes to helping them get on the property ladder.
“Instead of benefiting from Right to Buy, Thurrock Council is looking to give eligible tenants the option to take a £20,000 deposit instead and purchase a property on the open market.”
Cllr Worrall added: “We put forward a proposal for match funding with the government and we received £½ million. Tonight we are seeking to allow the Housing Revenue Account to match fund this – which is a requirement of the grant.”
She said: “This is a strange one for me. I have always struggled to come to terms with the right to buy which, for decades, took homes and money out of a system designed to help those most in need.
“To be fair, that has changed a bit over recent years and this proposal we’re looking at tonight seems to be a very sensible way forward, recognising both the need to provide a constant supply of social housing and at the same time helping people get their own home to own.
“This scheme will provide two major benefits. It will potentially reduce the number of home sold under the Right to Buy so the council keeps a consistent level of properties with which to house future tenants.
“And it gives tenants a greater choice of properties and products they may use to get on the property ladder and fulfil the aspiration of owning their own home.
“Simply put, this one year pilot scheme puts £1 million into the economy to help up to 50 families who will be able to make that difficult step towards owning their own home and at the same time freeing up their former home to become available for somebody or a family on our waiting list.
“This is just one of many steps we are taking to increase the chances of local people being able to buy their own homes.”
Cabinet agreed the proposal.
