The Voluntary Right to Buy pilot: Additional analysis of completions

This report builds on detailed analysis of the lessons from the pilot programme for the Voluntary Right to Buy (VRTB). The introduction of the right to buy (RTB) for eligible tenants in specified housing association dwellings was a manifesto commitment by the Conservative party for the 2015 general election. In October 2015, the government accepted a proposal by the National Housing Federation (NHF) on behalf of its members to deliver this commitment by way of voluntary agreement rather than legislation. The VRTB pilot scheme was set up by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) the following month. The research team was commissioned in January 2016 by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the five pilot housing associations to investigate the programme using an action learning approach. Findings from this research were published in January 2017. These findings were published before the end of the pilot programme. The overwhelming majority of the purchases from the pilot housing associations have now completed. This short follow-up report provides an update on the progress of the pilot during its final months.