I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 to 578, inclusive, 582 and 588 together.
Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new tenant purchase scheme for the purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines, similar to the schemes currently operating for local authority apartments and certain new local authority houses.
The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to make the Regulations necessary for the scheme’s introduction, in the second quarter of 2015, setting out the full details involved. It is expected that the new scheme will commence at the earliest possible date following the making of the Regulations which are at an advanced stage of drafting.
The scheme will apply to all local authority houses, other than affordable housing, new houses designated for sale under the 2010 incremental purchase scheme and classes of dwellings excluded from sale by regulation. It will be a matter for the local authorities to determine those houses eligible for sale under the scheme in accordance with the applicable legislation.