Lewisham Council have announced plans to buy back old council housing as their latest attempt to house Afghan refugees in the borough.
The Council want to buy “up to twenty” homes previously sold under the Right-to-Buy scheme introduced in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher.
These homes come on top of a hundred other former council houses the council want to buy back in order to ease pressure on Lewisham’s housing waiting list.
The plan for the houses for refugees is dependent on funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The Council plan to use the GLA’s Right to Buyback scheme and borrowing to buy four-bed homes.
It aims to resettle 100 refugee families from conflict zones including Syria and Afghanistan.
Council of Sanctuary
Lewisham Council claim their scheme is the most ambitious refugee resettlement programme in London.
In 2017, there were 17 refugee families resettled in the borough.
The target of 100 more families was set in 2019 with an end date of 2022, aiming to settle an average of 25 families per year.
More of those families will now be Afghan refugees resettled through the Afghan refugee resettlement scheme.
Lewisham Council became the first to be named a ‘Council of Sanctuary’ by the refugee charity City of Sanctuary.
However, the plans to buy back council housing for refugee families is dependent on funding, with the 100 homes for people on the housing register prioritised first.
What is Right to Buy (and Right to Buy-back)?
The council wants to buy all 120 houses through the Right to Buy-back fund announced by the Mayor of London.
The fund helps councils repurchase old council housing sold under the Right to Buy scheme.
Right to Buy gives long-standing tenants a legal right to buy the council house they are living in.
It was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1980.
The Mayor says the policy has had a “negative impact” on the number of council homes in the capital.
He hopes Right to Buy-back will increase London’s council housing.
Submitted Article
HeadlineLewisham Council plan to buy back council housing sold under Right to Buy to resettle refugees
Short HeadlineLewisham to buy ex-council homes for refugees
StandfirstThe Council also want to buy 100 homes to tackle housing waiting list.
Published Article
HeadlineLewisham to buy back Right to Buy council housing to resettle refugees
Short HeadlineLewisham to buy back Right to Buy homes to house refugees
StandfirstThe Council also want to buy 100 homes to tackle housing waiting list.
Lewisham Council have announced plans to buy back old council housing as their latest attempt to house Afghan refugees in the borough.
The Council want to buy “up to twenty” homes previously sold under the Right-to-Buy scheme introduced in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher.
These homes come on top of a hundred other former council houses the council want to buy back in order to ease pressure on Lewisham’s housing waiting list.
The plan for the houses for refugees is dependent on funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The Council plan to use the GLA’s Right to Buyback scheme and borrowing to buy four-bed homes.
It aims to resettle 100 refugee families from conflict zones including Syria and Afghanistan.
Council of Sanctuary
Lewisham Council claim their scheme is the most ambitious refugee resettlement programme in London.
In 2017, there were 17 refugee families resettled in the borough.
The target of 100 more families was set in 2019 with an end date of 2022, aiming to settle an average of 25 families per year.
More of those families will now be Afghan refugees resettled through the Afghan refugee resettlement scheme.
Lewisham Council became the first to be named a ‘Council of Sanctuary’ by the refugee charity City of Sanctuary.
However, the plans to buy back council housing for refugee families is dependent on funding, with the 100 homes for people on the housing register prioritised first.
What is Right to Buy (and Right to Buy-back)?
The council wants to buy all 120 houses through the Right to Buy-back fund announced by the Mayor of London.
The fund helps councils repurchase old council housing sold under the Right to Buy scheme.
Right to Buy gives long-standing tenants a legal right to buy the council house they are living in.
It was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1980.
The Mayor says the policy has had a “negative impact” on the number of council homes in the capital.
He hopes Right to Buy-back will increase London’s council housing.
Lewisham Council have announced plans to buy back old council housing as their latest attempt to house Afghan refugees in the borough.
The Council want to buy “up to twenty” homes previously sold under the Right-to-Buy scheme introduced in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher.
These homes come on top of a hundred other former council houses the council want to buy back in order to ease pressure on Lewisham’s housing waiting list.
The plan for the houses for refugees is dependent on funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The Council plan to use the GLA’s Right to Buyback scheme and borrowing to buy four-bed homes.
It aims to resettle 100 refugee families from conflict zones including Syria and Afghanistan.
Council of Sanctuary
Lewisham Council claim their scheme is the most ambitious refugee resettlement programme in London.
In 2017, there were 17 refugee families resettled in the borough.
The target of 100 more families was set in 2019 with an end date of 2022, aiming to settle an average of 25 families per year.
More of those families will now be Afghan refugees resettled through the Afghan refugee resettlement scheme.
Lewisham Council became the first to be named a ‘Council of Sanctuary’ by the refugee charity City of Sanctuary.
However, the plans to buy back council housing for refugee families is dependent on funding, with the 100 homes for people on the housing register prioritised first.
What is Right to Buy (and Right to Buy-back)?
The council wants to buy all 120 houses through the Right to Buy-back fund announced by the Mayor of London.
The fund helps councils repurchase old council housing sold under the Right to Buy scheme.
Right to Buy gives long-standing tenants a legal right to buy the council house they are living in.
It was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1980.
The Mayor says the policy has had a “negative impact” on the number of council homes in the capital.
He hopes Right to Buy-back will increase London’s council housing.
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