A LABOUR MP is calling for councils to have the priority to buy private properties as the housing crisis continues to put pressure on the Government.

Local authorities already have the power to bring post-1998 council houses back under their control when they are on sale.

But Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said the powers should be extended to privately owned homes.

He said: “Councils already have the power to buy back commercial stock that was post 1998.

“We should look to see how, in the long run, they can buy back private housing.

“They should have the first right of refusal to council stock and other types of housing stock.

“They should have the power to have the asking price first.

“In that way, home owners will never lose a penny.

“We don’t want to be in a situation where we are having a shortage of council houses.

“We need houses to be managed in a social way and we need to build council houses everywhere –not just in existing council estates.

“Of course, we can’t just focus on one group because we have a mix of demographics.

“So we also need to ensure homes are built for families of all sizes, such as high rises.

“The council needs to be able to support all of its tenants.”

Mr Russell-Moyle is a strong advocate for social housing.

He has just supported the first bill of rights for homeless people which was launched last week by the Brighton and Hove Housing Coalition and the European Federation of National Organisations Working With The Homeless.

Mr Russell-Moyle, along with Conservative Councillor Robert Nemeth, was at the launch of the bill.

It calls for giving homeless people the same rights as other citizens, including the rights to housing, shelter, sanitary facilities, emergency services and the right to vote and have data protection.

Mr Russell-Moyle is also a strong supporter of tenants’ rights.

Previously he has called for Parliament to draft a new law which will protect private renters from expensive letting agent fees as some estate agents use “dirty tactics” to charge more money.

He said the Tenant Fees Bill should be revised to put a cap on deposits and letting fees.