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Right to Buy

Exercising your right to buy your Council property

Many people decide to exercise their right to buy their Council property, known as 'right to buy'.

Most Council tenants can apply to buy their Council house or flat at a discount. For further information, see the Government website and the right to buy eligibility quiz.

If you wish to apply to buy your council house, you need to complete form RTB1 and send it to your landlord (normally the local Council).

Your landlord must accept or decline your application within 4 weeks (or 8 weeks if the landlord has changed within the past 3 years). If your landlord declines your right to buy application, they must give reasons.

If your landlord agrees to sell, they must send you an offer within 8 weeks if you’re buying a freehold property or 12 weeks if you’re buying a leasehold property.

The right to buy offer will include:

The price, with details of how it was calculated

  • Your discount, with details of how it was calculated
  • Details of the property being sold, including any land
  • Estimates of maintenance (service) charges for the first 5 years, if the property is a flat or maisonette
  • Details of any known structural problems. For example, the house might be an Airey house or a Livett-Cartwright house

You must confirm to the landlord within 12 weeks of receiving the offer that you still want to buy. If you don’t do so, the landlord will send you a reminder. You must reply to the reminder within 28 days, or the landlord could pull out.

NOTE: You can pull out of the purchase and continue to rent at any time before completion.

If you do not agree with the landlord’s valuation, you need to write to the landlord within 3 months of receiving the offer and request an independent valuation. A district valuer appointed by HM Revenue & Customs will visit the property and value it. You have 12 weeks to accept the district valuer’s figure or pull out.

Choosing a mortgage broker/financial advisor

  • Ask friends or colleagues to recommend a mortgage broker or financial advisor or contact your bank or building society directly. They should be able to discuss the affordable options with you and help you choose the best mortgage to suit you. 

Considering whether gifted funds are needed from friends or family 

Budgeting for costs and fees

  • You will need to budget for all the costs and fees relating to your purchase, including your survey fees, mortgage broker’s fees (if any) and legal fees. The Land Registry fee for registering your title will be twice as much as normal, as a new title will be created. If you are buying a flat, your conveyancer will charge a leasehold supplement.
  • Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) may be payable depending on the price of the property. See our Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator for guidance on what this would cost.

Choosing and communicating with your conveyancer

  • Speak to family, friends and colleagues, to see if they can recommend a good conveyancer. Check online reviews and read what others have to say about their experiences.
  • You need to have confidence in your conveyancer. A good conveyancer will ensure that the process is as smooth as possible. To ensure that this happens, you must pass all the documents received from the landlord to your conveyancer as early as possible. The documents will include a TP1 (transfer of part), which you will need to sign. That document records the property transfer, and is dated when the purchase price has changed hands. Your landlord will charge for issuing a duplicate. The process will involve form filling, document signing, telephone calls and emails. 

You will be speaking to your conveyancer a lot during the process. Your conveyancer will be able to reassure you and address any concerns that you have.

Expert Right to Buy Solicitors | Specialist Conveyancing Lawyers UK

Are you a council tenant looking to own the home you love? With the Right to Buy scheme, you can make this dream a reality. At Winston Solicitors, we specialise in helping tenants navigate this opportunity, ensuring a smooth, understandable, and affordable path to homeownership.

Our Right to Buy services include:

Personalised Assistance: Our team guides you through every step of the Right to Buy process, from initial eligibility checks to final completion.

Clear, Fixed Fees: Transparency is key. We offer clear, fixed-fee pricing with no hidden costs, so you know exactly what to expect.

Expertise in Right to Buy: Our specialist solicitors have extensive experience with the Right to Buy scheme and are well-versed in the nuances of the process.

Efficient, Remote Service: No need for time-consuming meetings. We handle your case via phone, email, and post, covering the entire UK.

Accessible Legal Advice: Our experts explain the process in plain, jargon-free language, making the legal aspects of your purchase easy to understand. 

Start your home ownership journey today

Take the first step towards owning your council home with Winston Solicitors. Contact us for a no-obligation quote and expert advice tailored to your circumstances. Our team is ready to make your Right to Buy experience straightforward and stress-free.

Winston Solicitors – Turning Council Tenants into Homeowners.

Client feedback

Absolutely fantastic, kept us informed every step of the way when purchasing our home
Marie
We are so grateful to Sidraa for all her support during our recent property purchase. She kept us informed and up to date every step of the way, always responding promptly and sharing information clearly and in a timely manner.Sidraa worked incredibly hard behind the scenes, handling so much of the legal side with care and efficiency — often without us even realising just how much she was doing. Her dedication and thoroughness made the whole process feel smooth and stress-free, which we deeply appreciate.Thanks to her professionalism and attention to detail, what is usually a complex and sometimes overwhelming process felt straightforward and well-managed. We couldn’t have asked for a better solicitor and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sidraa to anyone buying a property.
Sahid
I would highly recommend Winston Solicitors to anyone in need of reliable legal support. Sidraa was outstanding throughout our entire process—reliable, diligent, informative, and genuinely kind. She kept us consistently updated, always took the time to explain things clearly, and was readily available to speak with us directly whenever we had questions. Her professionalism and personal touch made a potentially stressful process feel smooth and manageable.
Jacob C
Great service by Winston Solicitors - was communicated at every step - would recommend both Tom and Sidraa for their professionalism
Anonymous
Excellent
Anna L
A very good conveyancing service. Clear and direct communication throughout the process. I would recommend Winston's solicitors if you intend to buy or sell a property.
Mr G
Very best service as First time buyer they explained and Sort out everything clearly for me.
Nosheen
Samantha was great. Very efficient. Always able to help. Very straightforward transaction. I would recommend.
Mr & M
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