🔑 UK Right to Buy Guide
Buy your council home
at a significant discount.
Right to Buy gives eligible council tenants in England the right to purchase their rented home at a discounted price. It's one of the most significant financial benefits available to social housing tenants.
£96,000
max discount in England (outside London)
£127,900
max discount in London boroughs
3 yrs
minimum tenancy to qualify
⚠ Right to Buy is available in England only. The scheme does not currently operate in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
The Scheme Explained
What is Right to Buy
and who qualifies?
Introduced in the 1980s, Right to Buy gives secure tenants of council properties in England the legal right to purchase their home at below market value.
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Your Main Home
The property must be your only or principal home. You must have been living there as your main residence.
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Secure Tenancy
You must hold a secure tenancy with a local authority. Some housing association tenants may also qualify through the Preserved Right to Buy.
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3 Years' Public Tenancy
You need at least 3 years as a public sector tenant. This doesn't need to be continuous or with the same landlord — it can be from different councils or housing associations.
⚠ Right to Buy applies in England only. It is not available in Wales (abolished 2019), Scotland (abolished 2016), or Northern Ireland (separate scheme applies). Always verify current eligibility with your local authority.
The Discount
How your RTB discount
is calculated.
The longer you've been a public sector tenant, the larger your discount — up to the maximum cap for your area.
🏠 House
35% after 3 years, +1% per additional year
35% at 3 yrs
🏢 Flat / Apartment
50% after 3 years, +2% per additional year
50% at 3 yrs
🏆 Maximum Discount
Capped to prevent discount exceeding 70% of value
70% cap
📍 Monetary Cap (England)
London: £127,900 · Elsewhere: £96,000 (reviewed annually)
April 2023
The Mortgage Angle
Your discount can act
as your deposit.
Most lenders accept the RTB discount in lieu of a cash deposit — meaning you may be able to buy with little or no cash upfront.
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Discount = Equity
Many RTB mortgages treat the discount as your deposit. A 35% discount means a 35% loan-to-value reduction before you put in any cash.
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Specialist RTB Lenders
Not all lenders offer RTB mortgages. We identify the most suitable RTB-specialist lenders from our comprehensive panel for your specific circumstances.
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Repayment Rules Apply
If you sell within the first 5 years, you may have to repay some or all of the discount. On a sliding scale — 100% in year 1, down to 20% in year 5.
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Valuation by Council
The council obtains an independent valuation. If you disagree, you can request a RICS review within 3 months of receiving the offer notice.
Eligibility Detail
Who cannot use
Right to Buy?
Some circumstances disqualify applicants or specific properties. Understanding this early saves time.
Eligible
Secure council tenant in England
Property is your only / main home
3+ years of public sector tenancy
Not subject to a possession order
Applying jointly with family members who share tenancy
Not Eligible
Property is sheltered or specialist housing
Listed building or property deemed unsuitable for sale
Active bankruptcy proceedings against the applicant
Court order to leave the property exists
Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
The Process
Your Right to Buy
step-by-step.
The process involves your council, a specialist lender and a conveyancing solicitor. We keep everything on track.
Step 1
RTB1 Application
Complete form RTB1 and submit to your landlord (council). They must respond within 4 weeks.
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Step 2
Council Valuation
Council obtains an independent valuation and issues an RTB2 notice with your offer and discount.
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Step 3
Mortgage Advice
We search our comprehensive lender panel for your RTB mortgage and secure an Agreement in Principle.
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Step 4
Full Application
Solicitor instructed. Formal mortgage application submitted. We manage the process throughout.
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Step 5
Completion
Mortgage funds released. Title transfers. You're a homeowner — in the home you've already been living in.
An Agreement in Principle shows how much you may be able to borrow based on the information you provide. It is not a mortgage offer and is subject to full application and credit assessment.
Important Considerations
Things to consider
before you proceed.
- ⏰
Complete within 12 weeks of valuation — if your mortgage application is not progressing within the timescale, the council may withdraw the offer. We keep the process moving.
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Discount repayment if you sell early — selling within 5 years means repaying a proportion of the discount on a sliding scale. Plan for this if there's any chance you may need to move.
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Maintenance becomes your responsibility — as a tenant, repairs were the council's job. As an owner, all maintenance costs are yours. Factor this into your financial planning.
- 🏢
Service charges for flats — if buying a flat, service charge estimates must be provided and capped for 5 years. Understand these costs before committing.
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Right of First Refusal — within 10 years of purchase, you must offer the property back to the council first if you decide to sell.
The MakeMyMortgage Difference
RTB needs a
broker who knows it.
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RTB Lender Access
We offer advice based on a comprehensive panel of lenders representative of the whole of the market, including those who specialise in Right to Buy applications.
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Discount as Deposit
We know which lenders accept the RTB discount in full as your deposit — so you can purchase with minimal or no cash upfront.
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Keeping to Council Timelines
The council's 12-week window is strict. We manage your mortgage efficiently to ensure you don't risk losing your offer notice.
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Regulated, Expert Advice
Providing regulated advice and working for you. Expert, tailored advice on the mortgage solution that suits your specific RTB circumstances.
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Proactive Document Checks
We thoroughly review all your documents before they reach the lender — catching potential issues early and giving your application the best possible start.
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Broker-Only Rates Available
Some mortgage rates are only available through brokers and not accessible by going direct to lenders.
Get Started Today
Ready to exercise your Right to Buy?
No obligation. Expert guidance from first enquiry to completion.
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Regulatory Information
Your Rights & Our Status
⚠️ Important Risk Warning
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
🏛️ Our Regulatory Status
MakeMyMortgage is an Appointed Representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd. Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
💷 Fee Information
We may charge a broker fee for our mortgage advice service. Our fee will be discussed and agreed with you before any work begins. Our typical fee is £299 but this can vary depending on the complexity of your mortgage needs. Our fee will be discussed and agreed with you before any work begins.
📞 Contact Us
MakeMyMortgage · makemymortgage.co.uk · This guide is for information purposes only and does not constitute personal mortgage advice. Information was correct at time of publication and is subject to change.
We offer mortgage advice based on a comprehensive panel of lenders representative of the whole of the market. We do not offer advice across all available products from all lenders. Personalised mortgage advice is available on request. The guidance contained within this document is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK. Right to Buy scheme details are correct at time of publication and subject to government policy changes.