The Right to Buy scheme, introduced in 1980 and significantly expanded since, gives most secure council tenants in England the statutory right to purchase their home from the council at a discount that increases with the length of their tenancy. It remains one of the most generous subsidised homeownership routes available in the UK.

Eligibility

To qualify for Right to Buy, you must be a secure council tenant and have had a public sector tenancy for at least three years, though the three years does not need to be continuous or with the same landlord. The property must be your only or main home and you must not be subject to a court order for possession. Some properties are excluded from Right to Buy, including sheltered housing for older or disabled people, and some housing association properties that do not carry Right to Buy obligations.

The Discount

The discount available under Right to Buy is calculated based on the length of the public sector tenancy. For houses, the discount starts at 35 percent after three years and increases by one percent per year up to a maximum of 70 percent or the maximum cash discount, whichever is lower. For flats, the discount starts at 50 percent after three years and increases by two percent per year to the same maximum. The maximum cash discount is reviewed periodically and as of recent years stands at around eighty-seven thousand pounds in most of England and higher in London. This substantial discount is the scheme's main benefit and can enable purchase at significantly below market value.

The Application Process

To start the Right to Buy process, submit an RTB1 application form to the council's housing department. The council has four weeks to respond confirming whether you have the right to buy, or eight weeks if they need more time. If your right is confirmed, the council then has eight weeks to send a formal offer notice, known as an S125 notice, which sets out the price, the discount, and details of the property.

You then have twelve weeks to accept or decline the offer. If you accept, you must arrange a mortgage or other finance for the purchase price and instruct a solicitor to handle the conveyancing. The process then follows a standard conveyancing timeline to completion.

Preserved Right to Buy

If your council home was transferred to a housing association while you were a tenant, you may have a Preserved Right to Buy entitlement. The rules are broadly similar to Right to Buy but the scheme is administered by the housing association rather than the council. Not all transferred properties carry this right; checking with the housing association confirms whether it applies.

Summary

Right to Buy gives eligible council tenants the right to purchase their home at a discount of 35 to 70 percent of market value, up to a maximum cash amount. Applications are made through the council's housing department using the RTB1 form. The council must confirm eligibility and issue a formal offer notice. Selling within five years requires partial repayment of the discount. Legal and mortgage advice should be sought before proceeding.