Sales of council homes under the Right to Buy scheme in England saw a significant increase in the past year, with 14,275 properties sold during 2025-26. This figure marks a 90% rise compared to the 2024-25 period, according to government data.
Since its introduction in the 1980s, the Right to Buy policy has led to over two million sales to tenants. Proposed government reforms aim to alter the scheme, including increasing the minimum eligibility period from three to 10 years before tenants can apply to buy their home.
Additionally, discount rules would be amended, with discounts starting at 5% of the property value and increasing by 1% annually, up to a maximum of 15% of the property value or the cash cap, whichever is lower.
Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, noted that the high number of homes sold creates a challenge for the housing market, as social housing stock needs to be replaced. She highlighted that 1.3 million households are currently on local authority housing waiting lists, the highest number since 2014.