Buying your home

This page explains the difference between Right to Buy and Right to Acquire.
Buying a house women holding keys

What is the Right to Buy?

The Right to Buy enables secure tenants to buy their own home at a discount.

This applies to some tenants who have a secure tenancy and have spent at least five years as a public sector tenant.

You may be able to buy jointly with members of your family who have lived with you for at least 12 months, or with someone who is a joint tenant. Your home must be their only/principal home. Proof of residency will be required for anyone looking to share the right to buy with you.

If you have lived in your home before it was managed by us, you may have what’s known as a ‘Preserved Right to Buy’. This could mean you qualify for a discount if you decided to buy your home. The amount of discount is capped at £75,000 and the amount of discount you receive is dependent on the length of your tenancy.

What is the Right to Acquire?

The Right to Acquire enables some assured tenants to buy their own home at a discount. The amount of discount will vary dependent on location.

Who has the Right to Acquire?

Assured tenants who have held their tenancy for two years if the tenancy started before 18 January 2005 or five years if the tenancy started on or after 18 January 2005.

Joint tenants and up to three members of the family can share the Right to Acquire. This is provided they live with them or have lived with them for 12 months before applying for the Right to Acquire. The home must be their only/principal home.

Which properties does the Right to Acquire apply to?

It only applies to properties built or purchased with public funds or transferred by a Local Authority after 1 April 1997,

Which properties does the Right to Acquire NOT apply to?

There are exemptions, the main two being:

Properties in certain rural parishes identified by the Government, please check this list before starting an application. Rural Parishes exempt from Right to Aquire

If the property is designed, or has special features, for the physically disabled, those with a mental disorder, special needs or the over 60s