Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, has asked Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to increase the amount of funding available for families in Brighton & Hove under the Government’s popular “Right to Buy” scheme.
Launched in April last year, the new Right to Buy offers council tenants in Brighton discounts of up to £75,000 to help them buy their home.
In the 2013 Budget the Government increased the cap on the maximum discount to £100,000 for people living in London, to reflect the higher house prices in the capital. Mr Kirby has asked for that increase to be extended to Brighton on the basis that council residents in the city would face similar prices to those living in London.
Mr Kirby also urged Brighton and Hove City Council to do more to advertise the scheme to ensure residents in the city do not miss out on the opportunity of home ownership.
Mr Kirby said:
“‘It is great news that the number of people buying their own council home has doubled. More and more people are now taking advantage of the Right to Buy scheme, which helps families realise the dream of homeownership, supports social mobility and helps to create and sustain healthy communities.
“Brighton and Hove is a fantastic place to live, which does mean that house prices here are significantly higher than the national average. I have asked Eric Pickles to acknowledge that reality and to amend this excellent scheme accordingly. An increase in the maximum discount would help even more families in Brighton and Hove to get onto the housing ladder which is something we would all welcome.
“I also urge Brighton and Hove City Council to do more to publicise the new Right to Buy scheme. Local authorities have a legal duty to inform tenants about the increased discounts, but I am concerned that Brighton and Hove Council have not done enough to make tenants aware of the new opportunities. I will be doing what I can to make sure my constituents in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven do not miss out on this potentially life changing scheme.”
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