27 Oct 2026
Councils in England would be able to designate eligible rural areas for protection from Right to Buy themselves, under proposed government amendments to the Social Housing Bill.
The change would remove the need to apply to the Secretary of State, reducing administration and giving councils more control over protecting local social housing.
The existing eligibility criteria would remain: areas must have a population of 3,000 or fewer and a population density of no more than two people per hectare. Regulations would set out the designation process.
The Bill already proposes a Right to Buy exemption for homes in designated rural areas, recognising the difficulties of replacing them because of land, planning and supply constraints. The latest amendment would simplify how eligible areas secure that protection.
Other proposed changes include:
- More time to retain social homes: private registered providers would have to notify councils and other providers eight weeks before completing a sale outside the regulated sector, rather than four.
- Stronger homelessness powers: councils could require housing associations to offer suitable accommodation to homeless households owed the main housing duty, unless there is a good reason not to.
The amendments were announced on 21 October and remain subject to parliamentary approval.
