Councils have only been able to replace 4,944 of the 11,465 homes sold under right to buy in 2017/18, new government figures have revealed.

The figures – which show only 43% of the homes sold have been replaced – have prompted calls for the Government to suspend the policy to stem the loss of social housing.

Chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Terrie Alafat, said: ‘We support the principle of helping tenants move into home ownership but it cannot be at the expense of other people in need. We need to look at fairer ways to help tenants into home ownership, because this is clearly not the way to do it.

‘We are calling on the government to suspend the right to buy to stem the loss of social rented homes, remove the barriers stopping councils from replacing homes sold under the scheme and look at more effective ways to help people access home ownership.’

Research by the CIH has previously revealed that 150,000 social rented homes were lost between 2012 and 2017. It warns this figure could rise to 230,000 by 2020 unless the Government takes action.

Laura Sharman (LGA)

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