Council tenants wanting to buy their own homes will have to stump up extra cash after councillors approved new Government plans to introduce a maximum discount level.
Members of the strategy committee signalled their approval for the proposal, which will see a discount offered to homebuyers under the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme capped at £16,000 at a meeting on Monday.
Sutton is one of 42 national areas, including 30 of 33 London boroughs, where the new reduced discount will apply once it takes effect from March 5.
The capping follows calls that the scheme has been abused by council tenants, and precedes a research report commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister due to be published later this year.
A letter sent out to local authorities from the Government last week stated there were concerns about the impact of sales of social housing under the scheme in areas subject to "significant housing pressures".
According to a council report, current housing stock levels in Sutton are 8,400 with more than 5,500 sales completed so far under RTB.
A total of 142 completions were carried out last year under the scheme with tenants receiving an average discount of £36,850.
January 31, 2003 12:00
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