Free Right To Buy Guide

Please click on a link below to browse our free guide to the Right To Buy scheme.

• An Introduction on the Right To Buy
• Considerations before buying
• Who has the Right To Buy?
• Preserved Right To Buy
• The Discount Rules
• The Qualifying Period
• Reduction of discount
• Repayment of discount
• What if I have purchased before?
• Right of first refusal
• Buying a flat or maisonette
• Service Charges
• The costs of buying
• How much would I need to borrow?
• Other costs of Home Ownership
• Step 1 How to apply
• Step 2 Landlord's Response Notice
• Step 3 Your Landlord's Section 125 Notice
• Step 4 Appealing to the District Valuer
• Step 5 Resolving other questions about the Section 125 notice
• Step 6 Getting a Survey
• Step 7 Getting legal advice
• Step 8 Telling your landlord what you want to do next
• Step 9 Enquiring about a mortgage
• Step 10 Completing your purchase
• Delays or problems with the sale
• Exceptions to the Right to Buy
• Exceptions Homes due to be demolished
• Other exceptions
• Rural restrictions
• Defective dwellings
• Right to Buy landlords
• Other Public Bodies
• Other booklets you may need
• Useful Addresses
• Helping you decide
• Frequently Asked Questions on Right to Buy

This guide is adapted from Your Right To Buy Your Home, © Crown Copyright 2005; Amended Reprint March 2006. Posted on this site July 2008.

About Your Mortgage

Ever since 1980 council and housing association tenants have been allowed to purchase their own council houses and flats. To assist them, many councils have offered discounts of anything up to £38,000. Councils all over the UK, from large places like Sutton Coldfield to smaller ones such as Watford offer the right to buy. Once an application is accepted and you have been told of the discount you are entitled to, you should start to look into applying for a mortgage (a large long-term loan) to provide funds for your house purchase. It is sensible to get professional, qualified help from a mortgage company like our partner companies, who have had many years of experience in tackling the field, and will assist you through the procedure of council house-buying. They'll charge a fee which covers expenses such as solicitor costs, house valuation, land registry fees and any fees for credit referencing that are required.