Right to buy

The Right to Buy is a Government run scheme that allows some tenants to purchase the property that they rent from the Council. For eligible tenants the price of the property will be offered at a price lower than the full market value.

Since the Housing Act of 1980, secure tenants of Council housing have had the right to purchase their homes.

 

The Housing Act 2004 has made further changes to the Right to buy regulations.

Iyour secure tenancy was in existence before 18 January 2005 of you were a public sector tenant beofre 18 January 2005 (and you have been a public sector tenant continuously since that time) you do not have the Right to Buy untill you have spent at least 2 years as a public sector tenant.

 

For anyone else you do not have the Right to Buy untill you have spent at least 5 years as a public sector tenant.

You could receive up to a maximum discount of 60% of the value depending on the amount of time that you have been a tenant. There is a maximum discount of £24,000 for the Yorkshire area.

A full guide to Your Right to Buy Your Home is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website (see Offsite Links to the right of this page). If the home that you are thinking of buying is a flat you will find the booklet Thinking of Buying a Council Flat on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website (see Offsite Links to the right of this page).

Where a property has been sold under the Right to Buy, the Council does not retain the title deeds.

If you have bought your property with a mortgage or loan, the deeds will be retained by your lender.

Your title deeds are important documents. If you hold the deeds to your property yourself, you should ensure that they are kept in a secure place.