If you’ve been a council or public sector tenant for 3 years (it does not have to be 3 years in a row) you can apply for the Right to Buy.
Public sector tenants are people living in a property owned by us, a housing association, the armed services or a public body like an NHS trust.
You can make a joint Right to Buy application with someone who shares the tenancy with you, or with members of your family if they've lived with you for the past 12 months.
You cannot buy through the scheme if:
- the property is not your main home
- the property is not self-contained (it has a shared kitchen or bathroom)
- there is a court order saying you must leave your home
- you're an 'undischarged bankrupt'
- you're being declared bankrupt
- you owe money to creditors
Some properties, like those suitable for older people, will not be sold through the Right to Buy scheme.
Right to Buy discounts
If you buy your home under the Right to Buy scheme, you’ll get a discount and pay less than the market value.
The amount of discount you get is based on how long you’ve been a tenant, where you live and the type of property you’re buying.
If you’ve already had a discount to help you buy a council home, this may be taken off your Right to Buy discount.
How to apply
To apply, you need to complete the Right to Buy application form on the GOV.UK website.
Once completed, please call the Right to Buy team on 0800 028 1870 to make an appointment to bring in your completed application. They will let you know if we need any additional documents to start the process.