Right to Buy, which allows tenants in social housing to buy their homes, ends today in Scotland.
Nearly half a million council and housing association homes have been sold to their tenants since the policy was introduced in 1980.
Ending Right to Buy will protect the housing stock that is available for social renting said Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart.
Mr Stewart said: “The end of Right to Buy marks a major milestone in the Scottish Government’s efforts to build a sustainable housing policy for the future.
“It is absolutely vital that people can access social housing when they need it most.
“By ending the Right to Buy we are protecting up to 15,500 social homes from sale over the next ten years and safeguarding this stock for future generations.
“The Scottish Government is doing everything possible to maximise our investment in housing and to deliver on our ambitious target of 50,000, affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament, including 35,000 social homes.
"But with thousands of people on waiting lists for council and housing association houses, it was only right for us to scrap this scheme as we could no longer afford to see the social sector lose out on badly needed homes."
Right to Buy is abolished
31 July 2016