Right to Buy

You can apply to buy your council home if:

• it's your only or main home
• it's self-contained
• you’re a secure tenant
• you have not breached your tenancy agreement, or have a suspended possession order against you as the tenant

Exemptions

You cannot apply to buy your council home through Right to Buy if you're:

• being made bankrupt (undischarged bankruptcy), have a pending bankruptcy petition, or have made arrangements with creditors 
• subject to a court order suspending your Right to Buy because of antisocial behaviour

You cannot apply for Right to Buy for the following types of property: 

• sheltered housing for the elderly, physically disabled, mentally ill, or mentally disabled
• properties first let before 1990 that are particularly suitable for retirement
• temporary housing pending redevelopment by the landlord
• staff housing rented to members of staff are exempt in some cases
• if it has a demolition notice

Use the Government's Right to Buy eligibility checker tool.

Joint tenancies

If your tenancy is in joint names, both tenants must be named and sign the application form.  

This is the case whether you're both applying to buy or not.  

If you do not do this your tenancy will end and you'll lose all rights to the property. If this happens you would need to take legal advice.

Family applications

You can apply for Right to Buy with up to 3 other family members if they're your:

• spouse, civil partner or partner
• parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece

The must provide proof that they're related to you.

They must:

• live at the property and it must be their only or main home
• provide proof that they've been living at the property for 12 months before applying