Nj. Williams et Fe. Twine, LOCALS, INCOMERS AND 2ND HOMES - THE ROLE OF RESOLD PUBLIC-SECTOR DWELLINGS IN RURAL SCOTLAND, Scandinavian housing and planning research, 11(4), 1994, pp. 193-209
Privatization of public rental housing has been a key element of Gover
nment housing policy in Britain since 1979, and the longer term conseq
uences are now becoming apparent. In particular the role that the form
er public rental dwellings plays in the housing market on resale is be
coming clearer. This article examines resales in rural Scotland and co
ncludes that the dwellings are not being used as second homes or retir
ement homes and that most are being bought by locals on moderate incom
es. Most incoming buyers, however, are elderly with property to sell a
nd they can outbid local buyers. The dwellings will not be meeting the
housing needs of the poorest households, however, as they are no long
er available to rent. In the absence of new rented housing to replace
dwellings lost to the rented sector through the Right-to-Buy, the hous
ing choices of some of those who need to rent may have been seriously
diminished.