Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.

Right to Buy Home Sales Surge 90% Despite Stricter Criteria

Home sales under the Right to Buy scheme in England increased by 90% in 2025-2026, according to data from Moneyfacts. A total of 14,275 council homes were sold, even as criteria for tenant eligibility were tightened.

Moneyfacts reports that only 3,452 replacement homes were funded through receipts from these sales, representing a 7% decrease compared to the previous year. Local authorities received £1.61 billion from Right to Buy sales, an increase of 99.6% on the previous year, with the average receipt per sale rising by 5% to £112,900.

The report notes that Housing Secretary Angela Rayner had previously reduced the discounts available to council tenants and indicated that the qualifying period for tenants could be extended. Since the Right to Buy scheme began in 1980, there have been just over two million sales to tenants, totalling 2,052,813 homes.

Despite the surge in sales, the limited availability of council housing stock means some tenants may still need to rent privately. The article also highlights that there are proposed reforms to the Right to Buy scheme under the Social Housing Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

These developments are particularly relevant for UK letting agents and inventory clerks, as changes in council housing availability and tenant movement may impact demand in the private rental sector.