The housing shortage within the borders of the UK is real and demands a workable solution. And the government is responding with a new scheme to help alleviate some of the pressure.  Due to be published Monday, part of the long awaited housing strategy paper includes the ability for millions of council tenants to buy their homes at half the normal price.  In areas outside of London and the South East, the current average amount of savings is 26,000 pounds.  That figure will increase to double that at 52,000 pounds.  Property prices continue to be highest in London and the South East.  In those areas the discount will be hiked to possibly 76,000 pounds.

Other possible benefits of the package include a major allowance for first time buyers.  They will once again be able to apply for mortgages of 95% loan to value.  This was the norm during the housing boom five years ago.

Ministers believe that action to assist the house building efforts by many will equal more sustainable growth within the market.  While Labour believes the scheme to increase the amount of discounts extended to the right-to-buy will not move the housing market closer to full recovery.

Jack Dromey, Shadow housing minister, commented on the housing crisis which is still growing, saying: "There is a growing housing crisis. The Tory-led government said building more homes would be the gold standard by which they should be judged. But fewer homes are being built this year than for a generation. They are failing their own test and these announcements won't change that or help to build more homes."