Right to Buy is a scheme that gives eligible council tenants in England the right to purchase their home at a discount. It was introduced by the Housing Act
On this page
Right to Buy is a scheme that gives eligible council tenants in England the right to purchase their home at a discount. It was introduced by the Housing Act 1980 and remains available, though the rules on discounts, eligibility, and preserved rights have changed significantly over time. We cover how the scheme works and what rights qualifying tenants have.
Who is eligible for Right to Buy?
You may be eligible for Right to Buy if:
- You are a secure tenant of a council (local authority)
- You have been a public sector tenant (with a council, housing association, or other public body) for at least 3 years
- Your home is your main or only home
- Your home is self-contained (you have exclusive use of key facilities such as bathroom and kitchen)
The 3-year qualifying period does not need to be continuous, and it can include time spent as a tenant with different public sector landlords.
Who is not eligible?
You cannot use Right to Buy if:
- You are not a secure tenant (many housing association tenants are not secure tenants under the Housing Act 1985)
- You live in housing that is particularly suitable for older or disabled people
- You have failed to pay rent or comply with tenancy conditions
- Possession proceedings are outstanding against you
- You are an undischarged bankrupt or have a bankruptcy petition or individual voluntary arrangement in place
How much discount do you get?
The discount is based on how long you have been a public sector tenant and the type of property:
Houses: discount starts at 35% for 3 years' qualifying tenancy, increasing by 1% for each additional year, up to a maximum of 70%.
Flats: discount starts at 50% for 3 years' qualifying tenancy, increasing by 2% for each additional year, up to a maximum of 70%.
Maximum discount amounts are capped and vary by region. London has higher caps than elsewhere in England. Check the current maximum discount with your council, as the government adjusts the cap periodically.
The Right to Buy process
- Apply using the official form (RTB1): submit to your landlord. The landlord must respond within 4 weeks (8 weeks if they have been your landlord for less than 3 years) confirming whether you have the right to buy.
- Receive the landlord's offer (Section 125 notice): this sets out the proposed price, the discount calculation, and a description of the property. You have 12 weeks to accept or reject the offer.
- Accept and complete: if you accept, the purchase proceeds like a standard property purchase. You will need a mortgage or funds to cover the purchase price (which is the market value minus the discount).
Preserved Right to Buy
If your council home was transferred to a housing association (for example, as part of a stock transfer), you may still have a Right to Buy if you were a council tenant at the time of transfer. This is known as Preserved Right to Buy. The rules are the same as for standard Right to Buy, but administered by the housing association rather than the council.
Right to Buy and disrepair
If your home has significant disrepair, the question of Right to Buy is distinct from your rights to have the disrepair remedied. Even if you intend to exercise the Right to Buy, you remain entitled to a habitable and properly maintained home until the sale completes. The landlord's duty to repair does not cease because a Right to Buy application is in progress.
If you buy the property with known disrepair and the landlord did not disclose it, you may have other legal routes, but these are complex and would need specialist advice.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
If your home has disrepair and you are a secure tenant, we can advise on your rights regardless of whether you are considering Right to Buy.
Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
Sources
Related articles
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
Related guides
Can I be evicted for complaining about disrepair?
Worried that complaining about repairs, or claiming compensation, could get you evicted? For council, housing association and now private renters in England, retaliatory eviction is not lawful. Here is the protection you have.
Read
Section 8 eviction explained (now that Section 21 has gone)
A Section 8 notice is how a landlord must now seek to evict you, using a specific legal ground. Here is what the grounds are, how the process works, and where to get free help.
Read
Being evicted? What your rights are, step by step
If your landlord wants you out, there is a legal process they must follow, and you do not have to leave until a court orders it. Here is each step and where to get free help.
Read
Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.