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FOI/202500459052 · FOI · unclear

Right to Buy Scheme revenue and statistics: FOI release

Published
2025-09-24
Received
2025-06-03
Responded
2025-06-30
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Housing, Public sector
Exemptions
None detected

Information requested

You asked for the following information:

The total revenue generated for the Scottish Government through the Right to Buy Scheme throughout its existence in Scotland between 1980 to 31st July 2016 broken into each decade, for example from 1980 – 1990, 1990 – 2000, 2000 – 2010, 2010 – 2016.

How has this income has been spent? Please provide a breakdown of how this revenue has been allocated within Government spending in each decade period as listed above i.e. from 1980 – 1990, 1990 – 2000, 2000 – 2010, 2010 – 2016.

How much of this income has been spent on building more social homes? Please provide a breakdown of how much of this income has been spent directly on building social housing in each decade period as listed above i.e. from 1980 – 1990, 1990 – 2000, 2000 – 2010, 2010 – 2016.

Response

1. Between the years 1979-80 and 2014-15 a total of 494,580 council and housing association homes were sold under Right to Buy in Scotland.

2. On the completion of a sale under Right to Buy the sale price must have been paid to the landlord i.e. the council or housing association. The revenue generated through the Right to Buy Scheme did not flow to the Scottish Government.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

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