What is right to buy?
Who has the right to buy?
Getting advice on right to buy
Is someone
trying to advise you to buy your Council home?
Contact us
Useful links
Under the Right to Buy scheme you can usually buy your home at a price lower than the full market value. This is because the length of time you have spent as a tenant entitles you to discount.
You probably have the right to buy if you are a secure tenant of the
Council but you must have at least two years with a public sector landlord
or five years in the case of new public sector tenants who took up their
tenancies on or after 18th January 2005.
There are some exceptions to the right to buy and it is important you get
advice before you enter into any agreements.
The home ownership team at the housing advice services can provide you with
a right to buy pack which includes an application form and booklet from the
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) giving detailed information, advice
and further contact numbers.
Please click here to request a right to buy Pack:
housing.advice@bolton.gov.uk
The DCLG and local authorities are concerned that tenants do not always
receive good advice when they ask private companies and individuals for help
in buying their Council homes.
Sometimes, tenants are asked to pay a lot of money for things that landlords
will do for nothing, for example, Right to Buy application forms are available
free from your landlord.
It is often claimed that the Right to Buy scheme is going to be changed or
ended. The Government made it clear last year, in its Housing Green Paper,
that it has no intention of making any further significant changes to the
Right to Buy scheme. Be suspicious if anyone tries to tell you otherwise. They
may be trying to persuade you to do something that benefits them rather than
you.
If you need advice on any aspect of the Right to Buy scheme, contact your
Council first. If you are approached by a person or company offering to help
you buy your council home, check out what's in it for them or talk to your
Council before signing up to any deal. Advice on how the scheme works
generally is also available from the Local Government North West tel. 0161 952
4000
The Home Ownership Team
Housing Advice and Home Ownership Service
1 Silverwell Lane
Bolton
BL1 1QN
Telephone: 01204 335423
Email: housing.advice@bolton.gov.uk
Please note that the Home Ownership Section are unavailable either by phone or drop-in on Wednesdays.
Housing advice services
Housing advice and
home ownership
services - opening hours
Home ownership services
