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Find out about buying your council house

What you need to know

You might be able to buy your home at a discounted price if you've been renting your council or housing association home for at least three years. This is through the  Right to Buy Scheme (opens new window).

You may be eligible if:

  • you've had a public sector landlord (such as a council, housing association or NHS trust) for three years (it does not have to be three years in a row)
  • it's your only or main home
  • it's self-contained
  • you're a council or housing association tenant

Affordability

Buying your home is a big financial commitment. Check you can afford to buy your property before completing the application.

Find out about Right to Buy (opens new window)

Valuing your property

It's a good idea to find out how much your home might be worth before applying. 

You can:

  • get help with a valuation on the Right to Buy website

  • find a local estate agent who can value your property

Other costs to consider

There are costs that you need to consider when looking to buy your property, including:

  • stamp duty
  • surveys
  • solicitors fees
  • service and maintenance charges if you are buying a leasehold property such as a flat
  • ongoing repairs and maintenance costs on your property

Discounts

The maximum discount is £96,000 across England, except in London boroughs where it is £127,900. It will increase each year in April in line with the consumer price index (CPI).

The discount is based on:

  • how long you've been a tenant with a public sector landlord
  • the type of property you're buying - a flat or house
  • the value of your home

If you're buying with someone else, you count the years of whoever's been a public sector tenant the longest.

You'll usually have to repay some or all your discount if you sell your home (opens new window) within 5 years.

You might get a smaller discount if you've used Right to Buy in the past.

The maximum discount will increase to:

  • £136,400 in London boroughs
  • £102,400 outside of London boroughs

for all new applications received on or after 6 April 2024

Further information and guidance (opens new window)

Applying for the right to buy scheme

To apply for the right to buy scheme you need to complete a RTB1 application form. 

Once completed you will need to print, sign and return it to:

Right to Buy - Resources Case Team
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB

We will check your application and let you know if you have the right to buy your property. We will do this within four weeks of receiving your application or within eight weeks if you have been a tenant with us for less than three years. A Housing Area Manager might contact you to discuss your application.

Withdrawing your application

You must write to us if you decide not to go ahead with your application.

What happens next?

Valuation and receiving an offer

Once we have accepted your application we will arrange for a valuation of your property.

We will also arrange for a surveyor to assess how energy efficient your home is and produce an Energy Performance Certificate.

We will then calculate the price of your property and send you a formal offer known as a Landlord's Offer Notice or Section 125 Notice.

This will be within eight weeks for a house or 12 weeks for a leasehold property (such as a flat).

If you do not agree with the valuation of your property you can appeal to the district valuer.

Accepting or declining our offer

Prior to accepting the offer, ensure that you have:

  •  in place the funds to purchase the property, via a mortgage or loan
  •  appointed a solicitor to act on your behalf

You must let us know in writing if you would like to accept or decline our offer within 12 weeks. 

If we do not hear from you within this time we could offer you an extension of time. If we do not hear from you after that we can withdraw your application.

Completing the sale of your property

Once you have accepted our offer we will instruct our solicitors to work with your solicitor to complete the sale.

The sale needs to be completed within four months of the date of the offer notice. If it is not we will send you notices to complete the sale.

If we do not hear from you within eight weeks of these your application could be withdrawn.

Further information and guidance (opens new window)