Buying Your Home

Who has the Right to Buy?

Most tenants of the Council have the right to buy their homes. However, some homes specifically designed for disabled or older people cannot be sold. You must have been a tenant of a council or a housing association that offers the Right to Buy for at least 2 years. See Right to Buy below. If you want to buy, you need to complete an application form. See How to Proceed below.

What if I want to buy my home but it is in a block or common building?

You will become a leaseholder. This means the Council will still own the building but you have the right to live in your home for a very long time. You will have to pay a share of the costs of maintaining and repairing the structure of the whole building and any communal areas. See Insurance and Repairs below.

Can anyone else buy my home with me?

Anyone who is a joint tenant can buy with you. Members of your family can also apply to buy with you but only if it is their only or main home and they have lived with you continuously for the last 12 months.

How much will I have to pay for the home?

The sale price will be set to compare with other houses for sale in the area. If you disagree with the price, the District Valuer will be asked to value the property. We will not value any improvements you have carried out yourself. You may get a discount on the price. This amount will depend on the length of time you have been a tenant. See Discounts below.

What costs are involved?

In addition to the sale price, you will have to pay bank or building society fees, survey fees and your solicitor’s fees. Consult a solicitor. You will also need to arrange building insurance and contents insurance. Contact an insurance company or broker. You should also work out the cost of running and looking after your home including repairs and maintenance. See Insurance and Repairs below.

Can I sell my house later?

Yes, but if you sell within 3 years of your purchase, you will have to pay back any discount you have received.

Right to Buy

As a Secure Council Tenant you have the right to buy your home.

Under the Government's Right to Buy Scheme you can buy your home outright or take out a mortgage with a bank or building society and buy it over time.

You can only buy your home if:

you are the Secure Tenant of the property you wish to buy
and,
you have spent at least 2 years as a council tenant or as a tenant of another public sector landlord which offered the Right to Buy
and,
it is your main or only home.

You may not have the Right to Buy if your home has been specifically designed for an elderly or disabled occupant or if we have started court proceedings to make you leave your home.

You can get detailed information about Right to Buy from your Area Housing Office or The Housing Advice Centre.

How to Proceed

Applying. We will give you an application form to complete.
Our decision. We examine your application form and write to you within 4 weeks.

If we refuse your application, we will tell you why. If we approve it, we will set out our terms and conditions.

The price. We will arrange for a valuer to assess the value of your property. We will then tell you the sale price and any discount. Once you accept the price we will only carry out emergency repairs to your home.
Getting a mortgage. Your solicitor may help you to arrange a mortgage. Alternatively you may prefer to get your own independent mortgage advice.
Completing the sale. You should speak to a solicitor who will make sure that all the legal documents are completed correctly and any searches are carried out.

Discounts

The amount of discount you get depends on the total amount of time you have spent as a tenant of the Council or of another public sector landlord that offered the Right to Buy, and whether the property is a house or a flat. You may not get a discount if your house was built or has been improved within the last 10 years.

Insurance and Repairs

Most houses are sold freehold. This means you also own the land the house is built on. You will be responsible for having the building insured, and repairing and looking after it.

Flats and maisonettes are sold leasehold. This means the Council continues to own the land and the building but you have the right to live there for the length of the lease. The Council will arrange building insurance, and any repairs to the building and common facilities. You will pay them for your share. How your share is calculated will be set out in your lease.

Your Enquiry | Right to Buy | How to Proceed | Discounts | Insurance and Repairs

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BUYING YOUR HOME

Your Enquiry