UCATT have renewed their call for an end to the Right to Buy after a new report found that 36% of homes sold under the Right to Buy in London are now let by private landlords.

The report written by Tom Copley the London Assembly Labour Housing Spokesperson, titled From Right to Buy to Buy to Let, found that the Right to Buy policy is increasing welfare spending as many tenants are on housing benefits and are being charged a market rather than a social rent. In some London boroughs average housing benefits claims are £100 a week higher for private tenants than for council tenants.

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The report also highlights that local authorities are now often forced to rent former homes back at higher market rents in order to meet their homelessness duties.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This report underlines the long-term failure of the Right to Buy. Private landlords are buying up large numbers of former council properties in order to make a quick profit while at the same time housing waiting lists are rapidly increasing."

The problem of Right to Buy sales has increased greatly in recent years following the Government’s decision to increase discounts to £75,000 and £100,000 in London.

(CD/IT)