How the scheme works.
• A new incremental purchase scheme allows households that qualify for social housing support to buy houses from their local authority at a large discount.
• Owners of affordable housing enabled to refinance or top up mortgages without having to pay a "clawback" of the discount they received on their property purchase to their local authority.
• Definition of anti-social behaviour extended to include graffiti and damage to property, and local authority tenancy agreements to include conditions prohibiting anti-social behaviour.
• Local authority councillors required to make plans for social and affordable housing.
• Minister given power to issue compulsory guidelines and policy directions to local authorities in relation to housing plans.