Right To Buy HA legal challenge

[loraward]

so? the money was freely given by the government of the day on the assumption that the houses would be built for rental and remain so

 

they also borrow money from the open market using the buildings and future rent as collateral. that will become harder/more expensive if these assets can be sold off at cameron's whim.

 

And government can if it wishes change their policies, government could for instance cut all funding to housing association, could compulsory purchase any house if it in the best interest of the community.

[The Joker]

And government can if it wishes change their policies, government could for instance cut all funding to housing association, could compulsory purchase any house if it in the best interest of the community.

 

So the government should blackmail the HA to give away their assets cheaply?

[loraward]

So the government should blackmail the HA to give away their assets cheaply?

 

The assets don't belong to them, they are a not for profit organization regulated and funded by government.

[I1L2T3]

The assets don't belong to them, they are a not for profit organization regulated and funded by government.

 

I think you'll find that the properties are assets owned legally by companies and charities. Pick a HA property then knock yourself out by spending a few quid at the land registry to see who has title.

 

---------- Post added 08-05-2015 at 22:26 ----------

 

except it wouldn't have

 

repealing the human rights act would only remove the right of people to seek redress through the uk courts, going to the EUCHR would still be an option.

 

we could, of course, walk away from the european convention on human rights but that would cause many other issues which we've explored on many other threads.

 

given that tory policy is to have a "bill of rights", which according to them will enumerate the same rights as the european convention then the basis would still exist.

 

anyway, back to the main point of the thread, housing associations are private organisations not in any way related or controlled by the state. so effectively the state is siezing the assets of private individuals and organisations, something we should all be worried about.

 

I agree it is worrying.

[loraward]

I think you'll find that the properties are assets owned legally by companies and charities. Pick a HA property then knock yourself out by spending a few quid at the land registry to see who has title.

 

If its theirs they would be able to sell it, they can't and even if they did they couldn't do as they wish with the proceeds. They loose nothing by allowing their tenants to buy them.

[I1L2T3]

If its theirs they would be able to sell it, they can't and even if they did they couldn't do as they wish with the proceeds. They loose nothing by allowing their tenants to buy them.

 

Your whole premise is utterly incorrect. HAs generally don't buy or build properties to sell them, apart from some shared ownership schemes that some of them run. They buy and build properties to rent them out. They generally don't sell them because it just isn't what they are set up to do.

 

You know this so why make up a pretend argument that HAs have some kind of burning desire to sell off their assets at a loss and are being prevented from doing so.

[The Joker]

I thought maggie Thatcher's flying monkeys were totally against the idea of state help for the public?

 

If not, can Mr Cameron buy me another house too?

[psynuk]

If its theirs they would be able to sell it, they can't and even if they did they couldn't do as they wish with the proceeds. They loose nothing by allowing their tenants to buy them.

 

Aside from the whole point of the company's existence you mean.

[Longcol]

Housing associations are largely charitable organisations. Under charity law charities are not allowed to dispose of assets at less than market value.

[Berberis]

 

The article states that the HA will sue them for breaking Article 1 of the Human Rights Act:

 

This would only be short lived anyway as one of the Cons pledges is to remove the Human Rights act and replace it with a British Bill of Rights.