If you are looking to purchase your council home through the Right to Buy scheme, you will need a conveyancing solicitor to guide you through the process. Our team of specialist Right to Buy conveyancing solicitors can provide advice and ensure a smooth council property buying process.
Our solicitors will assist you in every step of the process of buying your council house or flat, ensuring that you are fully informed and up-to-date throughout. We offer transparent Right to Buy fees and work efficiently to ensure you become a homeowner without delay.
The Right to Buy scheme is a government initiative that allows council and housing association tenants who are eligible to purchase their home at a discounted price. You may be entitled to receive a discount of up to 70% of the property value, up to a total of £108,000 in the London area or £80,900 outside of it.
To apply for the Right to Buy scheme, you must have been a tenant for at least three years, and you cannot purchase the property if it is not your primary residence, you have outstanding debts, have been declared bankrupt, or have been evicted from the property. The process can be complicated, so it is advisable to seek support from specialist Right to Buy solicitors.
The discount you receive under the scheme depends on how long you have been a tenant and whether you are buying a house or a flat. The longer you have been a tenant, the higher the discount you will receive. Our Right to Buy conveyancing solicitors can help you understand how your discount will be calculated.
Once you have decided to apply for the Right to Buy scheme, you can fill out the RTB1 application form online. Your landlord will receive your application form and must respond within four weeks or eight weeks if they have been your landlord for less than three years. If they reject your application, they must provide a reason, and if they do not respond within the time limit, you may receive an additional discount.
If your landlord agrees to sell the property, they will send you an offer within eight weeks for a freehold property and twelve weeks for a leasehold property. Our Right to Buy solicitors can guide you through the conveyancing process and help you complete the purchase.
When you receive the offer letter from your landlord, it will contain information such as the price of the property, the discount applied to the price, a description of the land and property, and any known problems with the structure of the property. For flats and apartments, the letter will also contain an estimate of the service charges for the next five years.
If you are ready to buy your first home through the Right to Buy scheme, contact us for detailed information on your options and a quote for our specialist conveyancing services.