Right to buy

If you are paying rent to a local authority in England or Wales for your house, then you may be able to buy the property from the local authority at a discount on its market value.

Right to buy may also be possible if you rent from a housing association, the armed services, or a public body such as an NHS Trust. 

If you have been paying rent to the council for at least 12 months, you are classed as a ‘secure tenant’. You need to be a secure tenant to be eligible for a right to buy scheme.

Some properties may not be available to buy. For example, if your property is suitable for disabled people or the elderly, it may be excluded from a right to buy.

If you and the property are eligible, then the price you will pay will be less than the market price because you will be entitled to a discount. The level of discount depends on where you live, the type of property and how long you have been a tenant. The maximum discount available on a house in 2010 is 60%, with a 70% discount on a flat.