£13m right to buy cash boost for Southampton housing stock

Southampton: The city council is taking steps to improve housing. They approved a plan to spend up to £5 million to buy 24 properties this financial year.

In a recent report, they mentioned this money would help secure 17 new flats, three second-hand houses, and three bungalows. These homes will provide temporary accommodation for families in need.

This move aims to reduce reliance on costly hotels and bed and breakfasts. The Labour cabinet also wants to extend the pilot program with an additional £13.085 million from Right to Buy receipts.

The government has allowed temporary flexibilities for this funding, but they expire at the end of the next financial year. The council will seek final approval for this scheme on February 25.

Cllr Andy Frampton, the housing cabinet member, noted that each property purchased could save £27,375 annually. This could lead to total savings of about £1.45 million each year.

He emphasized the human cost of homelessness, especially for families in temporary accommodations. These situations often lack the space and stability children need to thrive.

Frequent moves can disrupt children’s education and emotional well-being. The instability can also strain family relationships, adding stress for parents.

Under the Right to Buy scheme, eligible tenants can buy their council homes at a discount. The council can use the money from these sales to create more affordable housing.

Recent government flexibilities allow councils to spend all retained receipts on new affordable homes without limits on acquisitions. As of October, Southampton had 172 households in temporary accommodation.

Conservative group leader Cllr Peter Baillie criticized the plan. He argued that addressing empty council homes would reduce reliance on expensive emergency accommodations.

He pointed out that buying homes from private owners doesn’t increase the overall housing stock in Southampton. It merely changes ownership without adding new properties.