Other councils have sought permission from the Scottish Executive to suspend Right To Buy in areas with high demand.

Aberdeen looks set to be the latest to ask for Pressured Area Status for popular estates to address a lack of affordable accommodation.

A Dundee City Council housing department spokeswoman said, “No firm decision has been made to suspend the right to buy for council house tenants, but this may be looked at in a few years.

“At the moment, around 200 council houses per year are sold by the council to tenants, and other means of affordable housing in areas where there is a high demand for quality social rented housing is being dealt with by housing association programmes.

“Currently the council has not identified any specific area as having a lack of affordable housing. However, there is a view that various factors are influencing the housing market and research should be carried out.

“There are approximately 8000 applicants on the combined waiting and transfer list.

“The time applicants spend on the lists relates to the size of house required; type of house requested; area of choice and the availability of houses to meet demand.”

Right To Buy was introduced in the 1980s by the Conservative government to allow council tenants to buy at discounts that increased in line with length of tenancy. It’s a process that has drained council stock.

Late last year, the Executive announced an extra £2.2 million for Dundee’s affordable housing programme, taking the total spend to over £12 million.

Demand is being met by housing associations and the cash was aimed at accelerating projects in Lawside Works, James Street, Albert Street and Keswick Terrace.

Between 2001 and 2005, the number of council-owned houses and flats in Dundee fell by 20%, from 19,587 to 15,638. Much was due to demolition of unpopular properties.

The drop for Scotland was 32%, largely because the council stock in Glasgow, Borders and Dumfries and Galloway was transferred to housing associations.