Policy Press

The Right to Buy?

Selling off public and social housing

By Alan Murie

Published

May 31, 2016

Page count

200 pages

ISBN

978-1447332077

Dimensions

198 x 129 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 31, 2016

Page count

200 pages

ISBN

978-1447332091

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 31, 2016

Page count

200 pages

ISBN

978-1447332107

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
The Right to Buy?

The Right to Buy has had a massive impact on Housing in the UK for 35 years and in 2015 there were proposals to extend it. But what is the Right to Buy policy, how has it developed and what has its impact been? What evidence is there about the wider and unintended consequences of the policy? How are the proposals to extend the policy in England likely to affect future housing provision and what alternatives are there?

In The Right to Buy, Alan Murie provides an authoritative account of the origins, development and impact of the policy across the UK and proposals for its extension in England (and decisions to end it in Scotland and Wales). Presenting up-to-date statistical material the book engages with debates about transfers to private renting, the impact on public expenditure and on the current housing situation, addresses the proposals for new legislation and details the potential impact of these. It is an essential read for anyone interested in this highly topical issue.

"In the context of fast-moving change, [this] book provides a welcome and objective policy analysis." LSE Review of Books

“Professor Alan Murie’s latest book on the right to buy has the hallmarks of someone who has been studying the subject for a long time and knows it to a very fine level of detail, but who is still able to offer new insights and perspectives.” People, Place and Policy

"Alan Murie is the UK expert on the Right to Buy. He provides an in-depth and accessible assessment of the policy, its past, present and future, informed not least by his work in this area over the last 35 years." Peter Williams, University of Cambridge

"Students and policy makers alike will enjoy this concise and research based review of one of the most widely discussed housing policies of the past 50 years from the leading author on the topic." David Mullins, University of Birmingham

Alan Murie is Emeritus Professor of Urban and Regional Studies at Birmingham University. A former Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies and Head of the School of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, he has been involved in research and written widely on Housing, Housing Policy and related issues in the UK and Europe, including privatisation of housing and the Right to Buy in different parts of the UK.

Introduction;

Selling public housing: Precursors and preconditions;

The Right to Buy 1980-2015;

Right to Buy: Statistics and impact;

A policy commentary;

The next phase: Extending the right to buy in England;

Conclusions: The right to buy and beyond.