article_snippet.sent: But most tenants living in homes provided by housing associations – not-for-profit bodies that have gradually replaced councils as the main providers of social housing – do not qualify.
article_snippet.sent: Enabling the main providers of social housing – to buy the main providers of social housing – homes is expected to require major changes to the 1996 Housing Act, and is likely to be fiercely opposed by housing associations themselves.
article_snippet.sent: Currently, taxpayers subsidise the housing costs of many unemployed and lower paid workers who live in housing association properties.
article_snippet.sent: Ruth Davison, of the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, said:
article_snippet.sent: ‘Extending right-to-buy to housing associations is the wrong solution to our housing crisis.
article_snippet.sent: Are housing association tenants covered?
article_snippet.sent: – autonomous, not-for-profit bodies that receive public money and loans from the private sector to provide low-cost homes – are largely exempt.