Right to Buy: Help and Guidance
Buying a home can be an exciting time, but there is a lot to think about. It can also be a daunting process during which you will need expert help and advice.
Your landlord can help you with part of the process, but other parts, such as arranging your mortgage, are your responsibility. As you move further through the process, your landlord, solicitor and mortgage lender (if you have one) will manage your purchase, and there will be various documents for you to check and sign at different stages.
Be wary of individuals or companies offering to help you with your Right to Buy. It’s likely that they will charge you for their services and may be offering a deal which is better for them than it is for you. Always check first if there are any costs involved.
The government works with a number of organisations which provide free and unbiased advice and can help point you in the right direction. Click on the relevant topics below for more details.
Useful contacts
Right to Buy Advisers offer free and unbiased help and can guide you through the Right to Buy process, check if you might be eligible, answer your questions, signpost you to financial and legal advice and offer support if your application is delayed. You can phone their helpline on 0300 123 0913 or email enquiry@righttobuyagent.org.uk
The Money Advice Service is an independent organisation set up by government. They provide free impartial advice on a range of financial matters, including tips and tools to help you budget, choose a mortgage and work out whether you can afford monthly payments. Visit the Money Advice Service website or ring 0800 138 7777.
Go to the application form or speak to your landlord. You’ll find their contact details on a recent letter or your tenancy agreement. Your council or one of our Right to Buy advisers may also be able to help you complete your application. To find the details of your local council put your postcode into the finder tool.
The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) is funded by Government to provide free advice on leasehold properties, including guidance on service charges and ground rent. Visit the Lease website or ring 020 7832 2500.
For help in finding a solicitor, visit The Law Society website or ring 020 7320 5650.
For information on Stamp Duty and the latest rates see Stamp Duty Land Tax
To arrange a survey, visit the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) website. To find a surveyor in your area, visit their find a surveyor page.
If you would like to speak to someone about anything to do with Right to Buy, please visit our Agent Service page. The agent service offers free and impartial advice on Right to Buy and, if you decide home ownership is the right choice for you, our advisers can also help you through the process of buying your home. Our advisers are available Monday to Friday, 9am until 6pm (except bank holidays). You can call, email, or even chat with them online
If you can’t afford to buy your home through Right to Buy, you may still be able to buy through government home ownership schemes such as Shared Ownership and Help to Buy. See a list of all schemes or use our which scheme is for you form.