We are experiencing an increase in demand in right to buy applications and therefore your application may take longer to process. We are working hard to ensure this is minimised. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Purchasing your home is a big decision and there is no guarantee that an application will be successful. Please read the information provided on this web page and the links to supporting documents. The council strongly advises that applicants seek independent Legal and Financial advice to ensure you are fully aware of the process and implications.

The Right to Buy scheme gives most financially secure council tenants (and some housing association tenants) the right to buy their home at a discount.  

Please visit the Government website for guidance on your right to buy your home.

Do I qualify?

You could be eligible for a Right to Buy discount if:

  • You are a council tenant OR you were a council tenant and were living in your home when it was transferred to your current housing association landlord
  • The property is your only or main home
  • You have been a public sector tenant (usually a tenant of a council or a housing association) for at least 3 years. For a list of Public sector Landlords please visit the Government website
  • You don’t live in sheltered housing or other housing particularly suitable for elderly or disabled people
  • Your home is not due to be demolished
  • You don’t have any legal problems with debt
  • You don’t have any outstanding possession orders

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these statements, you are probably eligible but your landlord will need to confrm this.

Secure tenants who are not entitled to Right to Buy

  • Tenants of fully sheltered housing schemes for the elderly with a resident warden
  • Tenants of some properties that have been specially adapted for people with disabilities
  • Certain properties which are let to older people or those with disabilities, for example, bungalows
  • In situations where a court makes a possession order that says you must leave your home
  • If you have been served a notice saying that the council intends to demolish your home

Right to Buy discounts (Postponement of Charge)

You can get a discount on the market value of your home when you buy it if you qualify for Right to Buy.

The discount is based on:

  • how long you’ve been a tenant with a public sector landlord, see Discount rates for details
  • the type of property you’re buying - a flat or house
  • the value of your home

If you’re buying with someone else, you count the years of whoever’s been a public sector tenant the longest.

You’ll usually have to repay some or all your discount if you sell your home within 5 years.

You might get a smaller discount if you’ve used Right to Buy in the past.

For further guidance on discounts, including a Right to Buy calculator which helps you work out if you can afford it, please visit the Government website. 

Read the full details on available discount rates (postponement of charge). 

Please refer to the latest Government Guidelines for changes to the right-to-buy discounts (Postponement of Charge).

Things to consider before you apply

If you buy your home, it is important to remember that there will be a number of expenses to consider as part of the house-buying process. There will also be ongoing costs of owning a home.

You should think about how you would make payments if you (or anyone you are buying with) lost some, or all, of their income.

Remember, buying your home is a big decision. If you haven't done so already, you should get impartial financial and legal advice before buying. You can get free information and advice from:

Apply for the Right to Buy your Council property

Last updated: Tue 5th November, 2024 @ 16:15