Response to the Government’s proposed reforms for the Right to Buy

Following the Government’s significant reduction of discounts available to tenants under the Right to Buy in November 2024, a consultation on Reforming the Right to Buy was initiated. The London Borough of Fraud Investigators Group (LBFIG), in collaboration with the Tenancy Fraud Forum (TFF), submitted a response on behalf of our members. 

On 2nd July 2025, the Government published the consultation results and proposed a comprehensive suite of reforms to the Right to Buy. The full consultation can be accessed here: Government response to the consultation on Reforming the Right to Buy - GOV.UK

Upon reviewing the consultation results, both the TFF and LBFIG strongly advocate for the abolition of the Right to Buy, following the precedents set by Scotland and Wales. This measure is deemed essential to protect our social housing stock for the 1.33 million households on England’s waiting lists and the 126,040 households in temporary accommodation.

This policy change would also mitigate associated fraud risks, which have been estimated at 3% of all Right to Buy applications in London and 1.5% across the rest of England. 

Nonetheless, we acknowledge the Government's commitment to maintaining the Right to Buy and are encouraged by the proposed reforms following the recent consultation.

We are particularly enthusiastic about the following reforms, which we believe will help to deter fraudsters and strengthen the integrity of the Right to Buy scheme:

• Increasing the eligibility requirement from 3 years to 10 years as a public secure tenant. 

  
  

• Preventing existing property owners, or those who have previously benefited from the scheme, from exercising the Right to Buy unless under exceptional circumstances, such as being victims of domestic abuse. 

  
  

• Exempting newly built social and affordable housing from the Right to Buy for 35 years. 

  
  

• Extending the period from 5 years to 10 years during which the council can request repayment of all or part of the discount on the sale of property. 

We are delighted that the Government intends to pursue further policy development aimed at more effective fraud prevention, protections for vulnerable tenants, and third-party funded applications. 

We are eager to support the Government in integrating robust anti-fraud measures into the Right to Buy, safeguarding our precious social housing from fraud and abuse.