Over 455,000 properties were sold in Scotland under RTB since 1980. Sturgeon argued this significantly reduced the availability of homes for cheap rent.
In Scotland, the Right to Buy scheme—a hallmark of Margaret Thatcher’s 1980s housing policy—officially ended on July 31, 2016. Nicola Sturgeon , then First Minister, was the primary architect of its demise, describing the decision as a vital step to "safeguard social housing stock for future generations". 🏠 The End of an Era
Sturgeon announced the final stage of abolition, arguing that the social sector could "no longer afford" to lose badly needed homes. nicola sturgeon right to buy
While Sturgeon hailed the abolition as one of her "proudest achievements", the move was—and remains—highly polarized.
The Scottish Conservatives criticized the move, calling it a "backwards step" that "wrecked the aspirations" of people wanting to own their own homes. Over 455,000 properties were sold in Scotland under
With roughly 150,000 to 400,000 people on social housing waiting lists at various points, she maintained that public housing should remain available for long-term rent.
Some recent studies (un-peer-reviewed) have suggested that the original RTB scheme contributed to long-term educational and economic gains for families, sparking new debates about the trade-offs of Sturgeon’s decision. 'Right to buy' to be scrapped in Scotland - BBC News Nicola Sturgeon , then First Minister, was the
The scheme officially closed to all remaining social housing tenants in Scotland on July 31, 2016. 💡 Sturgeon’s Rationale