After the changes in 1988, what requirement was lifted from local authorities?

The requirement that was lifted from local authorities after the changes in 1988 was the obligation to keep housing stock. This change came as part of broader reforms in housing policy, which aimed to encourage local authorities to privatize their housing holdings and reduce public ownership.

Prior to this change, local authorities were often mandated to maintain a certain level of housing stock as part of their public service responsibilities. However, with the shift towards encouraging home ownership and enabling the transfer of these properties into the private sector, this requirement was removed. This change allowed local authorities more flexibility in managing their assets, potentially leading to the sale of council properties and a reduction in the overall public housing stock.

The other options relate to responsibilities that local authorities may still hold or had limitations placed upon them, but the specific lifting of the requirement to maintain housing stock marked a significant shift in government policy towards local authority management of housing.