Right to Buy Scheme
You may be able to buy the home you rent from your council at a discount under the Right to Buy scheme
Right to Buy Scheme
If you have been a secure council tenant for usually more than twelve months the scheme may apply to you. You can apply for Right to Buy if you’ve been a council or public sector tenant for five years (it doesn’t have to be five years in a row).
If you were a secure tenant of a local authority and the ownership of your property was transferred to a housing association you may be eligible for a Preserved Right to Buy (PRTB) for your property. This will only apply if you are still the tenant of the same property before and after the transfer.
You do not have the right to buy if:
- the property isn’t your main home
- the property isn’t self-contained (has a shared kitchen or bathroom)
- there is a court order saying you must leave your home
- you are an ‘undischarged bankrupt’ (you can’t borrow money)
- you are being declared bankrupt
- you owe money to creditors
- your home is rented in relation to your employment
Discounts Available
If you qualify for Right to Buy, you can get a discount on the market value of your home when you buy it. Your home’s market value is the price it would fetch if it was sold.
The discount is based on:
- how long you have been a tenant
- where you live
- the type of property you’re buying (a flat or a house)
If you have previously had a discount to help you buy a council home, this may be taken off your Right to Buy discount.