Right to Buy Lawyers
Right-to-buy Legal Expertise
We are right-to-buy conveyancing specialists.
Home Property has been dealing with right-to-buy transactions for buyers for years and has a vast knowledge of most local authorities as well as mortgage lenders’ timescales and procedures.
What Is Right-to-buy?
The Right-to-buy government scheme gives people the chance to buy the council house they are currently renting at a significantly discounted purchase price subject to them meeting eligibility criteria.
There are important things to consider when buying a property using this scheme, such as:
- Selling your home afterward
- Eligibility for the right to buy discount
- The real cost of the purchase
- Affordability
Our property lawyers have a wealth of experience in dealing with these types of purchases and will make it as straightforward as possible for you to get your foot on the property ladder.
Can I Apply To Purchase My Council House?
Specific requirements can vary based on whereabouts in the UK you are based and the type of property that you’re living in, but you will likely be eligible to buy your council home if:
- It’s your only or main home
- It’s self-contained
- You’re a secure tenant
- You’ve had a public sector landlord (a council, housing association, or NHS trust for example) for three years – though this needn’t be three consecutive years and can instead be a cumulative amount of time
- You have no outstanding debts
You can make a joint application with:
- Someone who shares your tenancy
- Up to three family members who’ve lived with you for the past 12 months (even if they don’t share your tenancy)
What Happens If Your Home Used to Be Owned by the Council?
If your home used to be a council property, but they sold it to another landlord (such as a housing association) while you were living in it, you may have the Right-to-buy provided you have been a tenant for a qualifying period, under a scheme called called ‘Preserved Right to Buy’.
Ask your landlord for the specific details and whether this applies to you.
If you weren’t living in your home when it was sold by the council you may still be able to buy it through the voluntary right-to-buy pilot if both the following are true:
- You live in a housing association property in one of the scheme’s local authority areas
- You’ve been a public sector tenant (usually of a housing association or council) for a total of at least 10 years
Reach Out to Our Expert Right-To-Buy Team
Our conveyancers help individuals, couples and families buy their new homes every day.
We’re with you every step of the way, from pre-contract right through to land registry and completion and it’s our job to make the whole process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We’ve supported our clients in buying a wide range of properties – from rural, urban, leasehold, freehold and new builds to listed properties.
We have also built excellent relationships with industry contacts, such as:
- Surveyors
- Estate agents
- Brokers
- Accountants
- Mortgage lenders
- Search provider
- Other solicitors
No matter the stage of your buying journey, we can help. Get in touch with one of our experts today by calling us on 0333 433 0275 or send us an email at hello@homepropertylaw.co.uk.
