What was the discount received during the sale of council houses?
33% to 50%, depending on how long you had lived in the house.
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How many council houses were still built between 1980 and 1985?
250,000.
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What was guaranteed by local authorities?
100% mortgages.
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After 5 years, how many were still unaware of the Right to Buy scheme?
One tenth of council tenants.
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Who were typically the buyers of council houses?
The middle-aged and better off, many with adult sharing the home and expenses. Most were in full-time work or manual-skilled or white-collar occupations, and with more than one salary. Buyer incomes were double tenant incomes.
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Where were most of the sales in relation to location?
In London and the south in England. It was slowest in old industrial areas in the north, arguably the areas that needed the scheme the most.
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Why were there psychological barriers with the sale of council houses?
Non-buyers tended to be afraid of mortgage, or of taking responsibility for repairs.
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How were council houses in general affected?
The number and quality for rent declined, and waiting lists got longer. Many were housed in emergency B&B accommodation, which cost the local authorities lots of money.
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Where were the profits from the sale of council houses spent?
On reducing debt.
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What type of houses sold better?
Those with gardens, those in suburb areas, those which were detached or semi-detached, those not neighbouring other council houses, those that were low-rise flats, and those with garages.
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How did the rents of council houses change?
They rose by 55% relative to average earnings compared to the previous 10 years.
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How did Labour react to the Right to Buy scheme?
Some Labour local councils were deliberately sluggish in dealing with potential buyers, and in Greenwich, there was a refusal to accept council house sale.
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How did the sale of council houses change?
In 1982, in England, there was a peak at 175,000. In Scotland, there was more hostility and a peak was not seen until 1989.
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Which act allowed people to buy their council house?
The Housing Act of 1980.
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How many new homeowners were there by 1988?
2 million.
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By how much did home-ownership increase?
15%, to 68%.
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Why did Labour reduce is opposition towards the Right to Buy scheme?
Because it was so popular with the public, especially in the south.
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What became a symbol of success during Thatcherism?
The sale of council houses.
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What did Thatcher aim to do?
Turn Britain into a property-owning democracy.
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How much did the sale of council houses feature in the 1979 general election?
It was given as much space as education and health and explained in detail the benefits it would bring.
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After winning the 1979 general election, who did Thatcher make environment secretary?
Michael Heseltine.
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What was Heseltine's initial belief towards the sale of council houses?
That council tenants should be given their council houses, though this was soon squashed by Thatcher, who needed to give the Treasury funds and was worried it would anger those who had painstakingly saved for a deposit for their mortgage.
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Other than Labour, who else opposed the sale of council houses?
The House of Lords.
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When was the Right to Buy scheme announced?
August 1980, by Thatcher during a special TV broadcast.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
How many council houses were still built between 1980 and 1985?
Back
250,000.
Card 3
Front
What was guaranteed by local authorities?
Back
Card 4
Front
After 5 years, how many were still unaware of the Right to Buy scheme?
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