Right To Buy – Council Purchases
Last updated on January 18th, 2024 at 03:41 pm
What is the Right to Buy scheme?
If you live in a property that belongs to a local authority in England or Wales, you may have the right to buy the property for less than the current market value. You may also have the right to buy your home from a housing association, the armed services or the NHS.
Do I qualify to buy my council home?
You need to be a secured tenant to buy your home from the council. This means that you must have been living in your home for more than 12 months.
Your house must be self-contained and must be your only or main home.
You must have been a council (or NHS/armed forces) tenant for 5 years – but it doesn’t have to be 5 consecutive years.
Some houses are not included in the Right to Buy scheme – such as those suitable for disabled people.
You can buy the property jointly, with a partner or someone who lives with you, but they must have lived in the house for 12 months.
What if the council has sold the property to another landlord?
Sometimes the council may have sold the property to a housing association, for example. You should have received a notification if this has happened. You may still have the right to buy the property under the ‘preserved right to buy scheme’, providing you qualify as above.
Graysons is accredited with the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality standard, so you can rest assured that our expertise and quality of service is second to none.
How much will I pay for the property?
As a council tenant, you will pay less than the market price and will be offered a discount. The price will depend on location, type of property and how long you have been a council tenant.
The maximum discount on market value you can get is £77,000 or £102,700 in London – updated in April every year.
You’ll probably have to repay some of the discount if you sell or transfer the property in less than 5 years. However, there are certain exceptions such as death or divorce.
How do I buy the property?
Contact the council and find out how much the property will cost. If it’s acceptable, make an offer. Make sure you have secured a ‘right to buy mortgage’. Not all lenders offer right to buy mortgages, so you’ll need to look around.
Then, contact our property specialists so they can guide you through the purchase process. We have many years’ experience of dealing with right to buy purchases, which means that we will help you to own your home as speedily and hassle free as possible.
What will Graysons’ fees be
Click here for an instant estimate, 24 hours a day.
Don’t forget that Graysons is accredited with the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality standard, so you can rest assured that our expertise and quality of service is second to none.
