BRYAN Latter's letter, (Residents can block estates sale, July 2), encourages residents and tenants of the Crown Estate to oppose the sale of social homes, but there is another approach.

Crown Estate could announce that it is its policy to ensure that its homes remain in social use by contractually preventing any purchaser - who would be obliged to rent under social housing terms - from selling the properties other than back to the vendor at the same price.

The principle reason why housing

associations like the Genesis Housing Group are queuing up to buy these homes is to sell them on and pocket the profit at the expense of the Crown Commissioners, who appear to be asleep at the wheel.

Such a condition would stop the abuse in its tracks

PETER RUTHERFORD Independent Federation of

Genesis Residents London NW6