The Right to Buy scheme allows eligible council tenants in England to purchase their home at a discount. It was introduced in 1980 and remains available, though with periodic changes to eligibility and discount levels.
Eligibility
You must have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years (not necessarily continuously, and can include time with housing associations). The property must be your only or main home.
The discount
The discount depends on how long you've been a tenant and whether you're buying a house or flat. For applications made from 21 November 2024 onwards, discounts were cut sharply and are now capped well below the old £96,000 / £127,900 (London) limits, with a lower regional maximum that varies by area rather than a single flat London/rest-of-England split. Always check the exact current cap for your region at gov.uk/right-to-buy-buying-your-council-home before relying on a figure.
Clawback
If you sell within 5 years of buying, you must repay some or all of the discount on a sliding scale. This catches people who buy and immediately sell for profit.
This is general information. The scheme is managed by your local council. Right to Buy does not apply in Wales or Scotland (separate schemes exist).
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