A Gertrude Place flat became the latest property to come back under council ownership, and it is in the process of purchasing another in George Street. In Thornliebank, a former council semi-detached home has also been bought over, and described as “walk in condition”.
Barrhead Cllr Danny Devlin, convener of East Renfrewshire Council’s for housing committee, spoke positively about the purchases.
He said: “This is great news for people who are struggling to get into housing or downsize from their current property.
“This housing would be sitting empty and often falling to bits until the council stepped in, and this way the housing is getting put to good use.” The purchases come after it was announced that local authorities will be able to make changes to the Right to Buy legislation’s effect in their area.
Right to Buy was introduced in the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher’s Tory government.
It gave tenants the right to outright purchase their council homes from the local authority and the policy continues to divide opinion to this day.
One side effect highlighted by critics, was that thousands of homes were lost from the social housing register, leaving many people unable to find homes or accommodation.
The News previously reported how East Renfrewshire Council had been forced to shack-up homeless residents in temporary B&B lodgings due to a lack of social and emergency accommodation under council ownership.
However it is also believed that council bosses now hope to abolish this, with a report on the matter going before East Renfrewshire Council’s Cabinet on Thursday, January 29 (tomorrow).
Due to the revised right to buy legislation, the properties purchased by the council will remain in their ownership.
Cllr Devlin added: “One bedroom properties are especially important as changes to Welfare benefits begin to kick in and we have a limited supply of one bedroom properties.”
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