More than one third of ex-council homes in London that were purchased at a discount under Right to Buy are now privately rented out.

According to London Assembly member Tom Copley, 52,000 properties sold through Right to Buy are now let by private landlords.

Copley said there should be mandatory covenants on all Right to Buy sales to prevent ex-council homes being used in this way.

He said: “This is nothing short of Whitehall-sanctioned robbery of the taxpayer.

“Right to Buy has played a central role in causing and exacerbating the current housing crisis.

“Future governments must recognise that the right of a council tenant to buy their home at a discount, subsidised by other taxpayers, cannot be at the expense of the right of the vast majority of people to have a decent, affordable home to live in.”