August 14, 2019 3.43 pm This story is over 55 months old

Lincoln council buys back six former council homes

Another eight are currently going through the process of being bought

The City of Lincoln Council has bought six former council houses, sold under the Government Right to Buy scheme, back from residents since new policies came into force just over a month ago,

A report before an authority scrutiny committee next week says another eight are currently going through the process of being bought under the Aquisitions Policy implemented in June.

Under the regulations, owners of former council homes have to sell their property back to the authority, or another social landlord, if they move within 10 years of the initial purchase.

They also have to pay back part of their discount if sold within five years.

City of Lincoln Council.

This money can be used for purchasing and repairing properties.

Kate Bell, Housing Strategy Officer said: “The council holds its Right To Buy funds for three years and any unspent monies are returned to Central Government.”

“We have so far been investing the funds into new-build council housing to meet the council’s priorities, and this will become the case  in the near future.”

“However, as we are currently working on a new housing delivery plan for the next five years, in the interim we have invested in these properties to put council housing into stock.”

There is always a high demand for council housing, so the bought properties will provide vital accommodation for those in need.

Between 2012-18 the authority sold 273 council homes under Right to Buy.

It aims to buy 10 homes a year.

It comes as the council looks to make it easier on itself to buy properties that are not former council houses but are “of strategic importance” to the authority.

Councillors are due to approve a series of modifications to the Acquisition Policy which was approved in May and implemented in June.

If given the go-ahead, it will go before the City of Lincoln executive at the end of September.