Lambeth Council is set to lobby the government for stronger restrictions on the Right to Buy scheme, arguing that current reforms do not go far enough to protect social housing stock. The council is also prioritizing the spend of receipts in the areas where they are going to get the most social rent homes, and maximizing the use of receipts in combination with section 106 funding and grant to help deliver the new homes program.

The Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed the impact of changes to the government's Right to Buy policy at a meeting on Wednesday 01 October 2025. Councillor Danny Adipalore, Deputy Leader for Housing Investment and New Homes, introduced a report on the matter, noting the council supported reforms to the Right to Buy scheme, including extending the qualifying period, disqualifying applicants who already own property, and exempting new build homes. He stressed the importance of replacing any homes lost through Right to Buy within ten years. A council officer noted that there isn't a borough in inner London that has it all solved, but that the challenges Lambeth faced were similar to those faced by other boroughs.

However, some councillors believe more drastic action is needed. Councillor Andrew Collins argued that the Right to Buy policy should be abolished entirely. He also questioned whether the council was using buyback money appropriately. Currently, the council has £47 million in 'buyback money', with £10.6 million allocated to the Some Elaton Road scheme (54% affordable) and £15 million aligned to the procurement of Westbury. The council received £15.6 million in receipts this year.

Pete Elliott, speaking on behalf of Stockwell Community Association, Lambeth Self-Help Housing Association tenants, and Bellevue Garden Mansions residents, said that he wanted to see social housing protected, not sold off for private gain or demolished, and that the council should use retained Right to Buy receipts as a strategic lever to deliver low-carbon, genuinely affordable homes.

A council officer acknowledged that the changes had created extra work for council staff, but that they were fully staffed to handle it.

Councillor Martin Abrams drew a direct line from the current housing crisis to Thatcher's Right to Buy policy, and asked what engagement the council was doing on a national level with the government to push even further against the policy.

A council officer responded that the council was doing everything it could to deliver social housing in the borough, and that the measures within the Right to Buy proposals were welcome and moving in the right direction.

The committee agreed to the following recommendations:

  • That the council continue to lobby the government to increase funding for social housing programs.
  • That the council learn lessons from other London boroughs where possible.
  • That the council provide more transparency to the committee about how Lambeth compares with its peers, particularly inner London boroughs.
  • That the council lobby national government to include views on restrictions around social housing for 35 years or increasing it.