Right To Buy for new tenants entering the social rented sector will be ended soon, it was announced today.

First time tenants and those returning to social housing after a break, will no longer be entitled to Right to Buy. Existing tenants will not be affected.

Since its introduction 30 years ago, the Right to Buy has resulted in the sale, at a discount, of almost half a million homes for rent in Scotland.

Over a 10 year period it is estimated the Right To Buy reforms will retain up to 18,000 properties in the social housing sector that otherwise would be sold off.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Home ownership is a laudable ambition. It is an aspiration this government supports and through our investment in shared equity, we are helping more than 1,500 people get a foot on the housing ladder this year.

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"But we also have a responsibility to provide homes for those who want to rent or cannot afford to buy. The credit crunch and the recession have reminded us just how important that duty is.

"But building new homes for rent is pointless if we then simply sell them off under the Right to Buy. That is why I believe the Right to Buy has had its day."

Ms Sturgeon said the government will bring forward proposals to abolish the Right to Buy for all new tenants. The proposals will safeguard up to 18,000 houses for future generations.

The Scottish Government is committed to safeguarding social housing for future generations. Around one in four Scottish households lives in social housing that provides a secure and sustainable alternative to home ownership for over 600,000 households across the country.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill will do this by reforming Right to Buy and modernising regulation to improve value for tenants and taxpayers.

(GK/KMcA)