Housing statistics quarterly update: March 2017

Sales of Local Authority Dwellings to Sitting Tenants (Right to Buy)

Most sales of local authority housing to tenants are sales under Right to Buy although a small number cover other sales such as voluntary sales by local authorities to sitting tenants.

Chart 13: Local Authority Sales to Sitting Tenants, Quarterly Applications and Sales, 2006 onwards

Note: The Right to Buy scheme closed to all new applicants on 31 July 2016, therefore application figures for 2016 Q3 (July - September) relate to applications for the single month of July 2016 only. Sales figures for the quarter July to September 2016 relate to sales across this entire quarter given that sales can occur in a period later than that in which the application was made.

In July 2013 the Scottish Government announced that the Right to Buy scheme was to end for all tenants. Immediately following this announcement the number of applications and the number of sales between July and September 2013 both increased (by 39% and 44% respectively) compared to the previous quarter. The increases were higher than in the same quarter of 2012, where the number of applications and the number of sales increased by 5% and 7% respectively.

The Right to Buy scheme closed to all new applicants on 31 July 2016, therefore application figures presented for the latest quarter July to September 2016 relate to applications made during the single month of July 2016 only. During this time period there were 3,353 Right to Buy applications, just under three times the 1,161 applications in the same quarter in the previous year. Throughout the year to end September 2016 there were 9,060 applications made, more than double the 3,890 applications made in the year to end September 2015.

Right to Buy sales can occur in a period later than that in which the application was made, and therefore sales figures presented for the latest quarter July to September 2016 relate to sales across this entire quarterly period. During this time period there were 712 Right to Buy sales, 63% more than the 437 sales in the same quarter in the previous year. Throughout the year to end September 2016 there were 2,200 sales, 37% more than the 1,608 sales in the year to end September 2015.