Revamped right-to-buy (RTB) proposals unveiled in the Government's housing strategy could force councils to ‘enter a lottery' in bidding to recoup sales receipts, sector leaders have warned.

First introduced in 1980, right-to-buy levels have decreased dramatically in the last five years, hitting an all time low of 2,730 in 2010/11 – from a peak of 167,120 sales in 1982/83. Average discount rates of 25% apply – with caps varying from 13% in London to 32% in the North West.