Get Your Best Mortgage Deal, Completely Fee-Free!
WE WORK WITH 90+ MORTGAGE LENDERS
In this guide:
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    If you’re a council house tenant, you may be able to get a mortgage using the Right to Buy government scheme. If you’re a Housing Association tenant, you can make use of a similar scheme labelled ‘Right to Acquire.’

    Keep reading to learn more and then get in touch with our team if you’re interested in applying for a Right to Buy mortgage through the scheme.

    What is a Right to Buy mortgage and how do they work?

    Thanks to the Government’s Right to Buy scheme, public sector tenants can purchase the council houses they are living in at a substantial discount. In some cases, they may be able to do so without a deposit as the discount can be put towards the purchase price of the property.

    While we refer to ‘Right to Buy mortgages’ throughout this guide, these aren’t specific mortgage products. Council tenants wanting to use the Right to Buy scheme have access to the same residential mortgages as every other borrower, so there isn’t one type of mortgage that is specific to people looking to buy their council home or Housing Association property.

    If you qualify for Right to Buy, you can buy your council house at a discounted purchase price. The maximum discount across most of England is £87,2000 (at the time of writing) but if you live in the London boroughs, the maximum discount is currently £116, 200. The discount increases annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

    As mentioned, Housing Association tenants can use the Right to Acquire scheme. This works in much the same way as Right to Buy although associations may sell the tenant an alternative home to the one they are living in and the discount will be less generous than the one offered under the Right to Buy scheme.

    Let's help you buy your council house

    Can I get a Right to Buy mortgage?

    If you’re tired of renting, a Right to Buy mortgage is certainly a good idea. But before you apply for a mortgage, you need to make sure you are eligible for both the scheme from your local authority and a loan from mortgage lenders.

    Eligibility criteria

    The biggest obstacle you will face when looking to get any mortgage is meeting both the lenders’ eligibility and affordability criteria. Below we delve into what makes you eligible for a right to buy mortgage.

    Right to Buy eligibility

    To qualify for the Right to Buy scheme, you will need to meet the local authority’s criteria. This is outlined below.

    • You need to have had a public-sector landlord for at least 3 years.
    • The property needs to be your main and only residence and it needs to be self-contained (i.e. a property that doesn’t contain facilities that are shared by people outside of your household).
    • You need to be a secure resident (i.e. there is a legal contract between you and your landlord).
    • You need to be living in England (there are separate schemes for council tenants in Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland where the scheme has been abolished).
    • You don’t live in sheltered housing for elderly or disabled people
    • You don’t have serious debt problems
    • You don’t have any outstanding possession orders against you

    If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for the scheme by filling out the Right to Buy application form and sending it to your landlord.

    Mortgage eligibility

    If the landlord agrees to sell their property to you, you can then apply for a mortgage. To be eligible for a right-to-buy mortgage, you will need to satisfy the lender that you meet their criteria, as is the case for all other mortgage applicants. These criteria will usually be based on your household income, employment status, credit history, age, and a few other factors.

    In some cases, you may need a specialist lender if you don’t meet the criteria set by most mainstream mortgage lenders. This might be the case if you have a poor credit history, are self-employed, and are at or close to retirement age.

    We have access to specialist lenders that consider right to buy mortgages if you do have a bad credit history, perhaps because you have missed payments on loans and bills in the past, or if there are any other factors that could affect your mortgage chances, such as being self-employed, get in touch with us and we will explore your mortgage options.

    Let's help you buy your council house

    How to get a Right to Buy mortgage

    To get a Right to Buy mortgage, you should:

    How much discount will I get?

    If you qualify for Right to Buy, you will get a discount on the full market value of your home.

    Your discount will be based on:

    • How long you have lived in the property
    • The type of property you are buying – a house or a flat

    If you have been a public sector tenant for between 3-5 years and you live in a council house, you will get a 35% discount. After 5 years, the discount goes up by 1% for every extra year you have had a public sector tenancy. The discount will go up to a maximum of 70% or £87,200 across England (£116,200 in London boroughs), whichever is lower.

    If you have been a public sector tenant for between 3-5 years and you live in a council flat, you will get a 50% discount. After 5 years, the discount goes up by 2% for every extra year you have been a public sector tenant. The discount will go up to a maximum of 70% or £87,200 across England (£116,200 in London boroughs), whichever is lower.

    If the landlord has spent money on your home, your discount will be less. If they have spent more money on the property than your home is now worth, you won’t get a discount.

    Check out the tables below to find out what your discount might be based on a house/flat valued at £100,000.

    Let's help you buy your council house

    House with a market value of £100,000

    Tenancy Percentage Discount Discount Applied Price You Pay
    3 - 5 years 35% £35,000 £65,000
    6 years 36% £36,000 £64,000
    7 years 37% £37,000 £63,000
    8 years 38% £38,000 £62,000
    9 years 39% £39,000 £61,000
    10 years 40% £40,000 £60,000

    Flat with a market value of £100,000

    Tenancy Percentage Discount Discount Applied Price You Pay
    3 - 5 years 50% £50,000 £50,000
    6 years 52% £52,000 £48,000
    7 years 54% £54,000 £46,000
    8 years 56% £56,000 £44,000
    9 years 58% £58,000 £42,000
    10 years 60% £60,000 £40,000

    How to calculate your Right to Buy discount

    If you would like to know the discount you may be eligible for, use this calculator to give you a rough estimate. When using the calculator, will need to know the estimated value of your home. To get this information, compare similar properties to yours on property websites or speak to an estate agent.

    Alternatively, speak to one of our mortgage team and we will calculate the discount for you.

    Why you should use a Right to Buy mortgage broker

    If you’re looking to buy your council house or Housing Association home, your life will be made much easier with the support of mortgage brokers who have an understanding of the Right to Buy scheme and the processes involved when applying for a mortgage.

    The mortgage advisers at YesCanDo Money have years of experience helping customers get Right-to-Buy mortgages so if you’re a public sector tenant and looking to move into home ownership, we are here to provide you with all the support and mortgage advice you need.

    How our Right to Buy experts can help

    After getting in touch with our team of expert mortgage advisers, we will help you in the following ways.

    Did you know that when getting a right to buy mortgage, you can borrow more to raise funds for home improvements? Not only that but you can also raise further funds to cover the associated legal fees such as solicitor costs. Being able to do this saves you from having to pay extra thousands of pounds upfront when you buy the council property you live in. We have lots of experience helping our customers get the best right to buy mortgage across the UK. – Grant Humphries (YesCanDo Mortgage Adviser)

    We will work out the costs involved

    We will look through your finances with you and will advise you on your affordability for a mortgage. We will factor in the various costs associated with home ownership, including building insurance and household bills, when working out the types of Right to Buy mortgages you can afford.

    We will help you with the application

    We will help you with your Right to Buy application and will send it to your landlord. If they are willing to sell the house to you, we will then assist you with your mortgage and complete the mortgage application for the mortgage lender.

    We will Make sure your council/landlord responds in good time

    Your landlord must say yes or no within 4 weeks of getting your application (or 8 weeks if you have had your tenancy for less than 3 years). We will chase them up for you to make sure you don’t have to wait too long for an answer. If they do miss the deadline, you could get a further discount on the property.

    If necessary, we will appeal your offer

    Your landlord will send you an offer that details the price they think you should pay for the property. You have 12 weeks after the offer to decide whether you want to buy. If the price offered appears to be too high, perhaps because it’s more than the market value of the property, you can request an independent valuation of your home and we can help you appeal the offer.

    We will find the best mortgage for you

    When you have accepted the landlord’s offer, you’re on your way to home ownership. Your appointed mortgage adviser will search the market for the best deals on right-to-buy mortgages with the lowest interest rates to make sure you get something that is affordable for you.

    We will be with you throughout the mortgage process

    We will be with you throughout your mortgage journey, from applying for the Right to Buy scheme to make sure everything goes smoothly during the final stages of purchasing your home.

    Get In Touch

    If you’re a Housing Association or council tenant and you’re thinking about buying a home, get in touch with our expert team and we will advise you further. We will help you with your Right to Buy application, compare Right to Buy mortgages to ensure you get the cheapest mortgage rates, and give you all the advice you need throughout the Right to Buy mortgage process.

    Get in touch with us today using the contact form below and we will give you a call back to arrange your first appointment with us.

    Let's help you buy your council house

    Frequently Asked Questions: Right to Buy

    You can’t buy a council house via Right to Buy if your name is already on a mortgage as the scheme is only available to people whose council property is their main and only home.

    Mortgage lenders will usually let you remortgage a Right to Buy property in exactly the same way you would with any other residential property but you will need to speak to your local authority before beginning the remortgage process.

    With the help of a specialist right to buy mortgage broker such as ourselves, it’s easy to get a Right to Buy mortgage, as we will support you throughout all of the processes involved.

    Affording a property can be made easier thanks to the Right to Buy discount.

    It may be possible to get an interest-only mortgage through the scheme but as you will need to repay the capital at the end of the mortgage term, mortgage providers need to know how you’re going to pay back the loan amount.

    Interest-only deals also come with high-income requirements, so to be eligible, most mortgage lenders will expect you to earn at least £50,000 a year.

    It’s certainly possible as your mortgage will come with lower monthly repayments due to the discount. But if you do have a low income, it’s advisable to speak to one of our right to buy mortgage brokers as we will make sure you only consider mortgage deals that have the lowest possible interest rate for somebody with your set of financial circumstances.

    Many lenders will consider you for a joint Right to Buy mortgage but the person you are buying with either needs to have lived with you for the last 12 months or be a joint occupant in your council housing.

    The Right to Buy scheme is actually perfect for first-time buyers as the discounted price can make mortgages more accessible. As such, you will be able to use the scheme if you have never owned a property before provided you meet the eligibility criteria set by your local council and the right to buy mortgage lender.

    You can sell your Right to Buy property at any point but if you want to sell it within five years (the discount clawback period), you may have to repay some or all of the discount. If you want to sell the property within ten years, you must give the local authority first refusal on the house/flat before selling it on the open market.

    Not necessarily. Most lenders will let you use your Right to Buy discount as a deposit so you might not need to raise additional funds for the down payment. This only applies to certain right to buy mortgage lenders, however, as not every mortgage provider will let you use your discount. Should you use our services, we will put you in touch with a mortgage lender that does.

    The Right to Buy process takes approximately 9-12 months from the initial application stage to getting your mortgage and owning your property.

    Related reading:

    Share this post:
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email
    WhatsApp
    Steve Roberts (MAQ)
    Steve Roberts (MAQ)

    Stephen Roberts MAQ is the founder of YesCanDo Money, one of the UK's largest no-fee mortgage brokers. With more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the mortgage industry, Steve really knows the ins and outs of mortgages. He's become a trusted expert and authority in the field, thanks to his deep understanding of the mortgage landscape. Speak to Steve or a member of his knowledgeable team today by completing our contact form:

    Contact Us

    Other Mortgage Advice Guides

    Key Worker Mortgage & Housing Schemes

    If you’re a key worker and a first-time buyer, you will likely be interested in the key worker housing schemes that are available to somebody ...
    Read More →

    How long does a mortgage offer last and what to do if it expires

    Once a mortgage lender has offered you a mortgage, you will usually be given a limited time in which to complete your property purchase. But ...
    Read More →

    My mortgage adviser has disappeared. What can I do?

    So you have had a meeting with a mortgage adviser and now you can’t get hold of them!? Maybe you have already got a mortgage application underway and ...
    Read More →

    Paying off your Mortgage Early: The Advantages and Disadvantages

    There are advantages and disadvantages to paying off your mortgage early, so you’ll need to carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision. ...
    Read More →

    Can I buy my rental house from my landlord?

    If you’re currently renting a house and thinking about buying a property for yourself, it might be that you’re interested in purchasing the house you’re ...
    Read More →

    How to log into Goverment Gateway to view Income & Tax

    Accessing your income information through the UK Government Gateway can be crucial, especially when applying for a mortgage. Mortgage lenders often require proof of income ...
    Read More →

    Top 10 Questions to Ask a Mortgage Broker: A Guide to Making an Informed Decision

    What is a mortgage broker? A mortgage broker employs a team of mortgage advisors who have the goal to match borrowers with the best possible ...
    Read More →

    How much is stamp duty?

    The amount of stamp duty you’ll need to pay depends on the purchase price of the property and where it’s located in the UK. Residents ...
    Read More →

    What Stops You Getting a Mortgage in the UK?

    Securing a mortgage in the UK involves many obstacles, from credit score evaluation to strick affordability criteria. Our guide aims to give an in-depth view ...
    Read More →

    Right to Buy Mortgage Explained

    If you’re a council house tenant, you may be able to get a mortgage using the Right to Buy government scheme. If you’re a Housing ...
    Read More →

    Understanding Checkmyfile: How It Works and Benefits Your Credit Score

    Discover Checkmyfile: The Leading Credit Report Service in the UK, acclaimed on Trustpilot, committed to enhancing your credit score for mortgage achievements. In this guide, ...
    Read More →

    How Do Mortgage Brokers Get Paid?

    Purchasing a home can be costly. To avoid adding extra costs to your moving budget, make sure you understand how mortgage advisors earn their pay ...
    Read More →

    Do I have to use an estate agent mortgage advisor?

    You go to see a property and it’s just the property you have been looking for. You know you can afford it as you have ...
    Read More →

    Renting vs paying a mortgage: The pros and cons

    If you can’t afford to buy your own home, you have the option of renting a home instead. In some instances, there are advantages to ...
    Read More →
    Scroll to Top
    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue we’ll assume you’re happy. See our privacy policy for more information.