Buying a Property

What is Right to Buy, Eligibility, Discounts, and Restrictions

Right to Buy gives qualifying council tenants in England the legal right to purchase their home at a discount. The scheme has helped millions of tenants become homeowners, but there are important rules around eligibility, discount caps, and resale restrictions.

Published: 10 Feb 2026 · Updated: 16 Mar 2026 · 6 min read

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What is the Right to Buy Scheme?

Right to Buy is a statutory scheme in England giving eligible secure council tenants the legal right to purchase the home they rent from their local authority at a discount on the open market value. Wales ended its version in 2019. Scotland ended it in 2016. Right to Buy in its current form applies only in England.

Who is Eligible?

To qualify, you must:

Be a **secure tenant** of a council (local authority) property
Have been a public sector tenant for a total of at least **three years** (need not be continuous; can include time with housing associations)
Use the property as your **only or main home**
Not be subject to a bankruptcy order or have outstanding county court judgments relating to mortgage or rent arrears

Certain properties are exempt, sheltered housing, those particularly suited for elderly or disabled people, and properties where the landlord is not the local authority.

The Discount

Property Type	Minimum Discount	Maximum Discount
House	35% (after 3 years, +1% per year)	70%
Flat	50% (after 3 years, +2% per year)	70%

The discount is subject to a cash cap set by the government and reviewed periodically. Always check the current cap with your local authority.

The Application Process

1. Complete a Right to Buy application (RTB1 form) and submit to your landlord

2. Landlord responds within four weeks confirming eligibility and price

3. You receive a Section 125 notice detailing market value, discount applied, and service charge history for flats

4. You have 12 weeks to accept or decline; if unhappy with the valuation, request an independent valuation within three months

Repayment of the Discount

If you sell within five years of purchase:

Year 1: repay 100% of the discount
Year 2: repay 80%
Year 3: repay 60%
Year 4: repay 40%
Year 5: repay 20%
After Year 5: no repayment required

The repayment is calculated on the proportion of the original discount applied to the resale price.

Right to Acquire

Housing association tenants who do not qualify for Right to Buy may qualify for **Right to Acquire**, a similar but more limited scheme with smaller discounts (typically £9,000 to £16,000 depending on location).

Once you have purchased under Right to Buy, your title register entry at HM Land Registry confirms your ownership. Property Passport UK can help you centralise property documents once you have completed your purchase.