Right to Buy
- Deposit required: Not applicable.
- Headline benefits: Council tenants are offered a discount of up to £102,400 (£136,400 in London) to help buy the home they are renting.
- Headline requirements: Must be a secure tenant and been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years.
Overview
The Right to Buy scheme helps eligible council and housing association tenants in England to buy their home with a discount. Following the government’s review of Right to Buy discounts, maximum cash discounts have been reduced to £16,000 – £38,000 from 21 November 2024. The level of the maximum discount available will depend on where you live.
Find out if you could be eligible, what discount you might get and whether you can afford to buy – and how to take the next steps if you decide to apply.
Why you might like to buy
Your home could be a valuable asset for you and your family and an investment for the future. Home ownership could give you more freedom to make the changes you want to your home. This could be your first step on the property ladder.
Remember, buying your home is a big decision and a commitment that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The responsibilities, costs and financial commitments that ownership brings need to be thought about carefully, so you should always get impartial financial and legal advice before buying.
This section of the website provides you with some of the main information to get you started – things to consider, what discount you could get, how to apply, and useful contacts for free, unbiased advice and information.
Your landlord is also legally obliged to regularly provide you with factual information about the Right to Buy scheme.
The government’s Right to Buy Agent service also offers free and impartial advice on Right to Buy and, if you decide home ownership is the right choice for you, our advisers can help you through the process of buying your home.
Find out more
Take our eligibility quiz to find out if you could be eligible for a Right to Buy discount.
Find out more about the costs of being a homeowner, what discount you could get and information about mortgages on our ‘Can I afford it‘ page.
If you think you are eligible, learn about ‘Applying‘ for the Right to Buy your home.
Find out more about the Preserved Right to Buy, for tenants who were living in a council home when it transferred to another landlord, and the Right to Acquire scheme.
Look at the most frequently asked questions and answers.
Our advisers can help you with:
- finding out if you are eligible
- working out your discount
- guidance about the costs involved; and
- completing your application form
Check out our ‘Contact an agent‘ page today.