Nearly 6,000 homes have been sold between April 2012 and April 2013 – the highest number of sales since 2007. Over two-fifths of the sales took place in the first quarter of this year.
As part of a bid to boost Right to Buy, the government has lowered the time barrier to include anyone who has lived in a council house for three years and has provided up to £100,000 in discounts for tenants in London.
Housing minister Mark Prisk (pictured) said: “I’m delighted that so many tenants are choosing to seize the opportunity to get on the property ladder through the reinvigorated Right to Buy.
“As a government we are determined to ensure that whoever you are – whether a prospective first-time buyer, an existing homeowner or a social tenant – if you work hard and want to get on, we will support you to move up the property ladder.”
Right to Buy gives eligible tenants discounts of up to £75,000 off the value of their home, or up to £100,000 in London.
London boroughs accounted for a third of the nine areas highlighted by the DCLG for fast growing sales.
The inner London borough of Haringey saw an 887% increase in sales, followed by the Thames-side Greenwich at 617%.
In total terms, Birmingham topped the list with 310 sales.
