Right to buy – what you need to know

The Government recently announced that they were looking to extend Right to Buy to housing association tenants, with government pledging to build a new social home for every one sold.

So, what does that mean for you and what should you do if you are interested?

Read our quick guide below: 

To be eligible for Right to Buy: 

Most housing association tenants do not have the Right to Buy. This may change following the Government announcement but that is yet to be confirmed. The exception to this is that, if you were a secure council tenant and were living in your home when it was transferred from your council to Riverside, then you may have a ‘preserved’ Right to Buy. This only applies if you were living in your home when it was transferred.

To be eligible for Right to Acquire:

You can apply to buy your housing association home if you’ve had a public sector landlord for 3 years or more.

In addition, your property must either have been:

  • built or bought by a housing association after 31 March 1997 and funded through a social housing grant provided by the Housing Corporation or local council
  • transferred from a local council to a housing association after 31 March 1997

You can’t use Right to Acquire if:

  • you’re being made bankrupt.
  • a court has ordered you to leave your home.
  • you have ‘”preserved Right to Buy”.

If you have questions on Right to Buy, please give us a call on 0345 111 0000.