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Right to buy or acquire your home

If you’re a housing association tenant in England you could be eligible to buy the home you rent at a discount.

Whether you have such an entitlement and the amount of discount you are eligible for depends on your type of home and the length of time you have spent as a qualifying tenant.

 

Right to Buy and Acquire

The Right to Buy scheme helps eligible council and housing association tenants in England buy their homes with a discount of up to £102,400 (£136,400 in London)

The government offers free and impartial advice on Right to Buy and, if you decide home ownership is the right choice for you, can help you through the process of buying your home.

Visit the government’s Own Your Home service for information on eligibility, affordability, and other frequently asked questions. 

You could be eligible for the Right to Acquire scheme if you do not qualify for Right to Buy.

The government offers free and impartial advice on Right to Acquire and, if you decide home ownership is the right choice for you, can help you through the process of buying your home.

Visit the government’s Own Your Home service for information on eligibility, affordability, and other frequently asked questions. 

The government has previously run two pilot schemes – an initial pilot in 2016, and a second pilot in 2018. 

Eligible tenants living in the pilot regions were able to go through the process of buying their own home, with a discount paid for by the government. 

There are no pilots currently running while the government reviews the processes of the original pilots. If you are a tenant interested in Voluntary Right to Buy, please contact the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities or your local MP for further information.

Further information in relation to the Voluntary Right to Buy can be found using the links below:

www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/scheme/right-to-buy/housing-association-tenants/

www.housing.org.uk/our-work/affordable-home-ownership/voluntary-right-to-buy/

Work out the costs and get advice

Once you’ve checked eligibility, you need to look at the costs, so you have an idea of what you can afford before you get too far into the process.

Complete an application form

Ready to apply? You can either complete the Right to Buy Application Form online or download a printed copy.

If you need more help, contact a Right to Buy adviser who can help you fill out the form.

Print it, sign it, and send it to us by email or post.

Please mark your application for the attention of the Legal Team.

Wait for a reply

We usually reply within four weeks to confirm whether or not you have the Right to Buy your home - usually up to eight weeks if you have been with us for less than three years. 

Receive an offer

We will send you an offer notice (S125) within eight weeks for a house and 12 weeks for a leasehold property. This sets out the property value (if you’re not happy with the valuation, you can appeal), discount, price you’ll pay, structural problems we know about, and terms and conditions. 

Survey, loans… and get advice

Now, you’ll need to get a survey, appoint a solicitor and arrange a mortgage or loan.

Complete the purchase

Once you are happy with our terms and have arranged to raise the money, you can complete your purchase. 

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