RIGHT TO BUY
Right to Buy allows most council tenants to buy their council home at a discount. Use the eligibility checker on the Right to Buy website to find out if you can apply.
There are different rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
You can apply to buy your council home if:
- It is your only or main home
- It is self-contained. You are a secure tenant
- You are a secure tenant. You have had a public sector landlord (e.g. a council, housing association or NHS trust) for 3 years – this does not have to be for 3 years in a row
- You have had a public sector landlord (e.g. a council, housing association or NHS trust) for 3 years – this does not have to be for 3 years in a row.
Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
Joint applications
You can make a joint application with:
Somebody who shares your tenancy
Up to 3 family members who have lived with you for the past 12 months (even if they don’t share your tenancy)
Ex-council homes
If the council previously owned your home, but they sold it to another landlord (such as a housing association) while you were living in it, you may still have the Right to Buy. This is called ‘Preserved Right to Buy’.
It is best to check directly with your landlord if this applies to you.
