article_snippet.sent: National Housing Federation director Ruth Davison added: 'Halfway through a programme of austerity and in the grips of a housing crisis, if you had £20 billion of taxpayers' money, would you just give you had £20 billion of taxpayers' money away as a gift to some of the most securely housed people in this country on some of the lowest rents?'
article_snippet.sent: The Conservatives say that forcing councils to sell off councils most valuable properties would fund this extension plus 400,000 new homes over five years –
article_snippet.sent: Prime Minister David Cameron added: 'And it could have a huge impact on councils' ability to build new homes, particularly in more expensive areas like London and the south east, where it might actually make more sense for councils' to borrow against the value of these properties so councils' can fund more homes.'
article_snippet.sent: The Coalition government has already increased right-to-buy discounts for council homes, meaning more are moving into the private sector.
article_snippet.sent: As well as promoting home ownership, the scheme could also dramatically reduce the vast housing benefit bill.
article_snippet.sent: The Tories say The Tories will make councils sell off expensive properties when councils become vacant.
article_snippet.sent: Council homes that rank in the most costly third of all properties of that type in their area will be sold off.
article_snippet.sent: What about the proceeds will be split, with a proportion used to replace on a 'one-to-one' basis Council homes that rank in the most costly third of all properties of that type in their area sold off.
article_snippet.sent: The new properties would be more affordable, probably in less expensive locations, and could be built either by a council or housing association.
article_snippet.sent: The rest would go to create a £1billion fund, enabling councils to bid for cash to develop brownfield land for housing.
article_snippet.sent: The rest would enable them to clean up derelict or contaminated land, and could lead to 400,000 new homes in five years, the Tories say.
highlights_snippet.sent: But the Tories said the Tories would be funded by making councils sell off homes .