Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act 2018

1 Overview

(1) This section gives an overview of the main provisions of this Act.

(2) Section 2 restricts the exercise of the right to buy pending its abolition (for which see section 6); and section 3 provides for exceptions to that restriction.

(3) Section 4 restricts the exercise of the right to acquire pending its abolition (for which see section 6); and section 5 provides for an exception to that restriction.

(4) Section 6 provides for the right to buy and the right to acquire to cease to exist in Wales.

(5) Section 7 removes the Welsh Ministers’ power to make grants to registered social landlords, and private registered providers of social housing, in respect of discounts given to tenants who purchase their dwellings.

(6) Section 8—

(a) requires the Welsh Ministers to provide landlords and other interested persons with information about changes to the law made by this Act, and

(b) requires landlords to inform their tenants about those changes.

(7) Sections 9, 10, 11 and 12 contain general provisions about the Act; the effect of section 11 is that—

(a) section 8 (provision of information) comes into force on Royal Assent,

(b) sections 2 to 5 (restricting the exercise of rights) come into force two months after Royal Assent, and

(c) sections 6 and 7 (abolition of rights etc.) may be brought into force by an order made by statutory instrument no earlier than twelve months after Royal Assent.

Restriction on exercising the right to buy and the right to acquire

2 Restriction on exercising the right to buy

(1) The Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 121 (circumstances in which the the right to buy cannot be exercised), insert⁠—

“121ZA Restriction on exercising the right to buy in Wales

(1) The right to buy cannot be exercised in respect of a dwelling-house in Wales unless—

(a) the dwelling-house is from previously let social housing stock, or

(b) any of the cases specified in section 121ZB applies, or has applied, in respect of the dwelling-house.

(2) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) a dwelling-house is from previously let social housing stock if, at any time during the period of six months ending with the relevant date, it has been—

(i) let under a secure tenancy,

(ii) let under an introductory tenancy (within the meaning given by Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)),

(iii) let under a demoted tenancy (within the meaning given by section 143A of the Housing Act 1996), or

(iv) a qualifying dwelling-house in relation to the preserved right to buy (see section 171B);

(b) “relevant date” means the day on which section 2 of the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act 2017 comes into force.

(3) This section does not affect the computation of any period under Schedule 4.”

(3) In section 171B (extent of the preserved right to buy), after subsection (6), insert—

“(7) Nothing in subsection (6) gives a person the right to exercise the preserved right to buy in respect of a dwelling-house in Wales unless⁠—

(a) the dwelling-house is from previously let social housing stock (see section 121ZA), or

(b) any of the cases specified in section 121ZB applies, or has applied, in respect of the dwelling-house.”

3 Exceptions to the restriction on exercising the right to buy

(1) The Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 121ZA (restriction on exercising the right to buy in Wales), insert—

“121ZB Exceptions to restriction on exercising the right to buy in Wales

(1) The first case applies in respect of a dwelling-house (the “exempted dwelling”) if—

(a) after the relevant date, the court orders a person who has the right to buy to give up possession of a dwelling-house,

(b) the order is made on any of the grounds set out in Parts 2 or 3 of Schedule 2,

(c) the person becomes the tenant of the exempted dwelling, and

(d) the exempted dwelling is suitable alternative accommodation for the purposes of the order.

(2) The second case applies in respect of a dwelling-house (the “exempted dwelling”) if—

(a) after the relevant date, the court orders a person who has the preserved right to buy (see section 171B) to give up possession of a dwelling-house,

(b) the order is made—

(i) on Ground 9 in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (c. 50) (possession of dwelling-house let under assured tenancy on grounds that there is suitable alternative accommodation), or

(ii) in pursuance of section 98(1)(a) of the Rent Act 1977 (c. 42) (limitation on recovery of possession of dwelling-houses let under certain tenancies),

(c) the person becomes the tenant of the exempted dwelling, and

(d) the exempted dwelling is suitable alternative accommodation for the purposes of the order.

(3) The third case applies in respect of a dwelling-house (the “exempted dwelling”) if—

(a) the exempted dwelling has, at some time during the period of six months ending with the relevant date, been let by a registered social landlord or a private registered provider of social housing under an assured tenancy (other than a long tenancy),

(b) after the relevant date, a person having the preserved right to buy in respect of another dwelling-house (“the relevant dwelling-house”) becomes the tenant of the exempted dwelling, and

(c) the exempted dwelling becomes the relevant dwelling-house for the purposes of section 171B(6).

(4) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations made by statutory instrument, amend this section by adding additional cases.

(5) Regulations under subsection (4) may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.”

4 Restriction on exercising the right to acquire

(1) The Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 16A (extension of the right to acquire to dwellings funded by grants under section 27A), insert—

“16B Restriction on exercising the right to acquire

(1) But the right to acquire cannot be exercised in respect of a dwelling unless—

(a) the dwelling is from previously let social housing stock, or

(b) section 16C applies, or has applied, in respect of the dwelling.

(2) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) a dwelling is from previously let social housing stock if, at any time during the period of six months ending with the relevant date—

(i) it has been let by a registered social landlord or a private registered provider of social housing under an assured tenancy (other than a long tenancy), or

(ii) it has been let under a secure tenancy, and

(b) “relevant date” means the day on which section 4 of the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act 2017 comes into force.

(3) This section does not affect the computation of any period under Schedule 4 to the Housing Act 1985.”

(3) In section 16 (right of tenant to acquire dwelling), in subsection (1), at the beginning, insert “Subject to section 16B,”.

(4) In section 21 (purchase grant in respect of certain disposals), after subsection (2), insert—

“(2A) But subsection (2) does not apply in respect of a discount on a disposal of a dwelling unless—

(a) the dwelling is from previously let social housing stock, or

(b) section 16C applies, or has applied, in respect of the dwelling.”

5 Exception to the restriction on exercising the right to acquire

(1) The Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 16B (restriction on exercising the right to acquire), insert—

“16C Exception to restriction on exercising the right to acquire

(1) This section applies in respect of a dwelling (the “exempted dwelling”) if—

(a) after the relevant date, the court has ordered a person to give up possession of a dwelling,

(b) the order is made—

(i) on any of the grounds set out in Parts 2 or 3 of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) (discretionary grounds for possession of dwelling let under secure tenancy), or

(ii) on Ground 9 in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (c. 50) (possession of dwelling let under assured tenancy on grounds that there is suitable alternative accommodation),

(c) the person becomes the tenant of the exempted dwelling, and

(d) the exempted dwelling is suitable alternative accommodation for the purposes of the order.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations made by statutory instrument, amend this section by making provision for further circumstances in which this section applies in respect of a dwelling.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.”

Abolition of the right to buy and the right to acquire

6 Abolition of the right to buy and the right to acquire

(1) The following rights no longer exist in relation to dwellings in Wales—

(a) the right to acquire the freehold of a dwelling-house, or to be granted a lease of a dwelling-house, pursuant to Part 5 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) (the right to buy);

(b) the right to acquire a dwelling pursuant to section 16 of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) (the right to acquire).

(2) Accordingly, the following enactments are repealed—

(a) sections 2 and 3 of this Act (restriction on exercising the right to buy etc.), and sections 121ZA, 121ZB and 171B(7) of the Housing Act 1985 (inserted by sections 2 and 3 of this Act);

(b) sections 4 and 5 of this Act (restriction on exercising the right to acquire etc.), and sections 16B, 16C and 21(2A) of the Housing Act 1996 (inserted by sections 4 and 5 of this Act);

(c) section 8 of this Act.

(3) Schedule 1 (which makes consequential amendments and repeals) has effect.

Discount grants

7 Removal of power to make grants in respect of discounts

(1) The Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) is amended as follows.

(2) Section 21 (purchase grant by Welsh Ministers in respect of discounts on disposals of dwellings otherwise than in pursuance of the right to acquire) is repealed.

Duty to provide tenants and prospective tenants with information

8 Information for tenants and prospective tenants

(1) The Welsh Ministers must, within one month of the coming into force of this section—

(a) prepare a document containing information that they consider will assist tenants and prospective tenants to understand the effect of this Act, and

(b) publish the information on a website maintained on their behalf.

(2) The Welsh Ministers must also, within one month of the coming into force of this section, take all reasonable steps to provide a copy of the information to—

(a) every qualifying landlord;

(b) any bodies appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of tenants in Wales;

(c) any bodies appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of local housing authorities;

(d) any bodies appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of registered social landlords;

(e) any other bodies the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(3) The information must, in particular, include the following—

(a) the date on which the right to buy and the right to acquire will cease to be exercisable in relation to certain dwellings by virtue of section 121ZA of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) and section 16B of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52),

(b) the date on which the right to buy and the right to acquire will cease to exist in Wales, and

(c) any other information that the Welsh Ministers consider would assist tenants and prospective tenants to understand the effect of this Act.

(4) Every qualifying landlord must, within two months of the coming into force of this section or, if earlier, within one month of having received a copy of the information published by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (1)—

(a) provide all its relevant tenants with such of the information as it considers to be relevant to them (which must, in particular, include the information mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b)),

(b) publish such of the information as it considers to be relevant to its tenants and prospective tenants on its website (which must, in particular, include the information mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b)), and

(c) secure that a copy of the information published in accordance with paragraph (b) is available for inspection (without charge) at such places as it considers appropriate.

(5) Subsection (6) applies where, after the day on which this section comes into force—

(a) a person offers to let a dwelling in Wales under a secure tenancy or an introductory tenancy, or

(b) a person who is a registered social landlord or a private registered provider of social housing offers to let a dwelling in Wales under an assured tenancy (other than a long tenancy).

(6) The person making the offer (the “prospective landlord”) must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the offer is made, provide the prospective tenant with such of the information published by the Welsh Ministers under subsection (1) as the prospective landlord considers relevant to the prospective tenant (which must, in particular, include the information mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b)).

(7) In making arrangements for the purposes of providing information under subsections (4)(a) and (6), a landlord or prospective landlord must—

(a) have regard to the likely needs and characteristics, in respect of the provision of information, of persons to whom the information in question is to be provided, and

(b) consider whether, having regard to those needs and characteristics, it is appropriate to provide any of the information to any of those persons otherwise than in the way in which it would normally be provided.

(8) In this section—

(a) “local housing authority” means the council of a county or county borough in Wales;

(b) “qualifying landlord”means—

(i) a landlord that lets a dwelling in Wales under a secure tenancy;

(ii) a registered social landlord;

(iii) a private registered provider of social housing that lets a dwelling in Wales (see section 80(3) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17));

(c) “relevant tenant” means—

(i) a tenant who has a secure tenancy, an introductory tenancy or a demoted tenancy of a dwelling in Wales, if that tenancy existed on the day on which this section came into force;

(ii) in relation to a registered social landlord or a private registered provider of social housing only, a tenant who has an assured tenancy of a dwelling in Wales (other than a long tenancy), if that tenancy existed on the day on which this section came into force;

(d) “secure tenancy”, “introductory tenancy” and “long tenancy” have the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985;

(e) “registered social landlord” means a body registered in the register maintained under section 1 of the Housing Act 1996;

(f) “assured tenancy” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1988 (c. 60) (and includes an assured shorthold tenancy);

(g) “demoted tenancy” means a tenancy to which section 143A of the Housing Act 1996 applies.

General

9 Power by regulations to make consequential amendments etc.

The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, make any supplemental, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of, or for the purpose of giving full effect to, any provision of this Act or any provision made under this Act (whether as a consequence of any provision made in or under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) or otherwise).

10 Further provision about regulations under section 9

(1) The power in section 9 to make regulations is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2) Regulations under section 9 may amend, repeal, revoke or modify any enactment (including a provision of this Act).

(3) If this subsection applies, regulations under section 9 may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

(4) Subsection (3) applies where regulations under section 9 amend, modify or repeal any provision of an Act of Parliament or a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, whether or not the statutory instrument contains any other regulations.

(5) Where subsection (3) does not apply, regulations under section 9 are subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

11 Coming into force

(1) This section and sections 1, 8, 9, 10 and 12 come into force on the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.

(2) Sections 2 to 5 come into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.

(3) Sections 6 and 7 come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers in an order made by statutory instrument.

(4) But the Welsh Ministers may not appoint a day for any of sections 6 or 7 to come into force which is before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.

(5) An order under this section may make transitory, transitional or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of any provisions of this Act.

12 Short title

The short title of this Act is the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Act 2018.