Islington’s Labour council is set to buy back another 193 former council homes, which it originally sold off under the Right To Buy scheme. 

Funding for the buy back – the exact cost of which has not been revealed – comes from a variety of public sources including the Greater London Authority, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Islington council itself.

The council’s buy-back programme is one of the largest in the country. Over the past four years, 552 homes have already been purchased, with 307 bought in the last 12 months alone.

A spokesperson says: “There are currently 1,737 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in Islington – the highest figure since records began.

“These homes will provide security for people experiencing homelessness or those who have fled conflict, giving them the stability they need to start rebuilding their lives locally.

“More people will have access to good-quality temporary accommodation in Islington when they need it most. I’m proud that we are leading the way with our buy-back programme and doing everything we can to increase the number of council homes in the borough.”