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Right to Buy your council home
In England most secure council tenants who have had a public sector landlord for 3 years can buy their home at a discount. In Northern Ireland, Housing Executive tenants have a similar House Sales Scheme. There are different rules in Wales and Scotland.
Official links
Show links for:
| Official source | Applies to |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK: Right to Buy www.gov.uk/right-to-buy-buying-your-council-home | England |
| nidirect: House Sales Scheme www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/house-sales-scheme | Northern Ireland |
Step by step
- Check you qualify: it must be your only or main home, self-contained, and you must be a secure tenant.
- Fill in the Right to Buy application form (RTB1) and send it to your landlord.
- Your landlord must reply within 4 weeks (8 weeks if they have been your landlord for less than 3 years), then send an offer with the price and discount.
- You have 12 weeks from the offer to say you still want to buy. If you think the value is too high, ask in writing for an independent valuation within 3 months.
What you need
- The RTB1 application form.
- Details of how long you (and anyone buying with you) have been a public sector tenant.
- Details of any joint applicants: up to 3 family members who have lived with you for the past 12 months.
Common mistakes
- Selling within 5 years without realising you usually have to repay some or all of the discount.
- Missing the 3 month limit to challenge the valuation, or not replying to the landlord's reminder.