Significant reforms to social housing rights and the “Right to Buy” scheme are being debated in the House of Commons today, 10 September 2026, as the Social Housing Bill [HL] reaches its second reading. The proposed legislation represents a major shift in national housing policy, aiming to protect existing stock and enhance security for vulnerable tenants.
If passed into law, it will introduce the most substantial changes to the Right to Buy scheme since its inception, including a sharp increase in the length of time a tenant must live in a property before they are eligible to purchase it.
Overhaul of Right to Buy
A central pillar of the legislation is the tightening of eligibility criteria for council and housing association tenants. Under the new proposals, the minimum period of secure tenancy required to qualify for a Right to Buy application will rise from three years to 10 years.
The financial incentives for purchasing a social home are also set for a significant reduction. Currently, discounts can reach up to 70% of the property’s value depending on the length of tenancy and location. The new framework proposes that discounts start at just 5%, increasing by 1% for every additional year of tenancy, up to a maximum cap of 15% or the designated cash limit.
To further safeguard the supply of affordable housing, the bill introduces a 35-year exemption for all newly built social and affordable homes. This means any social housing constructed under the new rules cannot be sold through Right to Buy for more than three decades.
Protections for Domestic Abuse Survivors
Beyond the financial and eligibility changes, Part 2 of the bill introduces a new legal framework designed to protect survivors of domestic abuse. The legislation will allow survivors to remain in their current tenancies while facilitating the legal eviction of perpetrators.
In cases where it is not safe for a survivor to stay in their home, the bill provides a framework to ensure they can move to safe, alternative accommodation without losing their secure tenancy status. These measures are intended to remove the risk of homelessness for those fleeing violence and to ensure that housing status is not used as a tool of control by abusers.
The bill is expected to move to the Committee stage following today’s debate, where it will undergo detailed line-by-line scrutiny before returning to the Commons for further votes. The government has stated that these measures are necessary to prioritise social rented homes and ensure that the “Right to Buy” does not lead to a further depletion of the UK’s social housing numbers.
