Responding to the proposals to end Right to Buy for new build affordable homes in Scotland, Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Radical reform of Right to Buy is the right thing to do.

"There’s no point in running a bath with the plug out the other end and that’s what we continue to do when we build good quality affordable rented homes and then sell them on at a discounted price.

“Since the policy started over 25 years ago, nearly half a million public sector homes have been sold off in Scotland, while only around 42,000 council homes have been built over the same period.

“Selling off council stock, while starving local authorities of cash to replace them, has been a contributing factor in the current housing crisis that sees hundreds of thousands of people either on waiting lists or in temporary housing.

“We commend the inclusion of radical reform to Right to Buy in the proposed draft housing bill and hope that it will be the death knell of this outdated policy.”

Notes to Editors:

1.    Scottish Government research on Right to Buy is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/15085602/0

 2.    Shelter believes everyone should have a home and helps 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Britain's housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions. 

3. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.

 4. For more information about Shelter visit www.shelter.org.uk