Evaluating legal models of affordable home ownership in England

In recent years, alternative models of Low Cost Home Ownership have been developed, ranging from grants, through intermediate tenure, to co-operative housing models. Whereas Right to Buy was driven by the single minded mission of giving people what they want – full ownership – the newer models take account of a wider range of objectives. This chapter: a) Explains the legal frameworks used to deliver the main LCHO products available in England; b) Explores the ways in which the products deliver the benefits of home ownership to the individual in the form of wealth creation, security and ‘mainstreaming’; and c) Discusses the ability of these products to support two additional policy objectives: supporting sustainable communities through facilitating mixed neighbourhoods, and providing ‘value for money’.