Right to Buy 2026: Eligibility, Discounts, and How to Apply

Since its introduction in 1980, over 2 million council homes have been sold through Right to Buy in England, with discounts saving buyers billions of pounds collectively, according to DLUHC statistics. At HouseCheckup, our £24.99 property reports give Right to Buy applicants comprehensive data about their home — including EPC ratings, flood risk, subsidence risk, and local market comparables — helping you make an informed decision about whether buying your council home is the right financial move. This guide covers everything you need to know about Right to Buy in 2026.

What Is Right to Buy?

Right to Buy is a government scheme that allows eligible council tenants in England to buy their home at a significant discount. The scheme was introduced by the Housing Act 1980 and remains one of the most generous routes to homeownership available, with discounts of up to £127,900 in London and £96,000 elsewhere in England.

Note: Right to Buy was abolished in Wales in January 2019 and in Scotland in August 2016. This guide covers England only.

Are You Eligible?

To qualify for Right to Buy, you must:

• Be a secure tenant of a council (local authority) property in England
• The property must be your only or principal home
• Have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years (not necessarily of your current home — previous council or housing association tenancies count)
• Not be subject to a possession order or certain anti-social behaviour orders
• Not have been made bankrupt with a bankruptcy order still in effect

Right to Acquire (Housing Associations)

If you're a housing association tenant, you may be eligible for the Right to Acquire instead. This is a similar but separate scheme with smaller discounts (maximum £16,000 outside London). Some housing association tenants whose homes were transferred from council ownership may have a Preserved Right to Buy with the same terms as Right to Buy.

How Much Discount Do You Get?

Your discount depends on the type of property and how long you've been a public sector tenant:

Houses

Flats

Example: A flat in London valued at £250,000 after 10 years of tenancy would attract a 64% discount. 64% of £250,000 = £160,000, but the maximum London discount is £127,900. So you'd pay £250,000 - £127,900 = £122,100.

Cost Floor Rule

If your landlord has spent money on repairs or improvements to the property in the 15 years before your application, the discount cannot reduce the purchase price below what the council has spent. This is called the "cost floor" and can significantly reduce your discount for recently renovated properties.

The Application Process

1. Complete form RTB1: Download from gov.uk and submit to your landlord. This is the formal Right to Buy application.
2. Landlord responds (within 4 weeks): The council must confirm or deny your right to buy within 4 weeks of receiving your application (8 weeks for housing associations).
3. Valuation and offer (within 8 weeks for houses, 12 for flats): If eligible, the council arranges an independent valuation and sends you an offer notice (Section 125 notice) stating the price, discount, and terms.
4. Accept or challenge: You have 12 weeks to accept or request a review of the valuation. If you disagree with the valuation, you can apply to the District Valuer for an independent determination.
5. Arrange your mortgage: Get a mortgage offer (most high-street lenders offer Right to Buy mortgages).
6. Complete the purchase: Instruct a solicitor, complete the conveyancing, and exchange and complete as with any property purchase.

Costs to Budget For

Even with the discount, there are costs to consider:

• Legal fees: £800-£1,500 for conveyancing
• Mortgage fees: Arrangement fees, typically £0-£2,000
• Survey: Optional but recommended — £250-£600 depending on type
• Stamp duty: Based on the discounted purchase price (many RTB purchases fall below SDLT thresholds)
• Ongoing maintenance: As an owner, you're responsible for all repairs and maintenance
• Service charges (flats): If buying a flat, you'll pay service charges for communal maintenance
• Buildings insurance: No longer covered by the council

Restrictions After Purchase

Repaying the Discount

If you sell your home within 5 years of buying, you must repay some or all of the discount:

• Year 1: Repay 100% of the discount
• Year 2: Repay 80%
• Year 3: Repay 60%
• Year 4: Repay 40%
• Year 5: Repay 20%
• After 5 years: No repayment required

The repayment is based on the percentage discount applied to the current market value at the time of resale, not the original discount amount. If property values have risen, you repay more than you originally saved.

First Refusal

If you sell within 10 years, you must first offer the property back to your former landlord (or another social landlord) at full market value. They have 8 weeks to decide whether to buy it back.

Is Right to Buy Right for You?

Right to Buy is an excellent deal financially in most cases, but consider:

Arguments For

• Massive discounts (often £50,000-£127,900)
• Build equity instead of paying rent
• Freedom to modify and improve the property
• Potential capital gain over time
• Security of ownership

Arguments Against

• You become responsible for all maintenance and repair costs
• For flats, service charges can be very high (sometimes £2,000-5,000+ per year)
• Major works bills for flat owners can reach £10,000-£30,000+
• You lose the right to council repairs and maintenance
• Mortgage payments may be higher than your current rent
• If you sell within 5 years, you must repay the discount

When It's Less Attractive

Right to Buy may not be the best option if:

• The property needs significant structural repairs that will become your responsibility
• You're buying a flat with very high service charges or upcoming major works
• You plan to move within 5 years (discount repayment)
• You can't comfortably afford the mortgage, insurance, and maintenance costs

Get the Data Before Deciding

A HouseCheckup report for £24.99 (Complete tier) gives you essential property data to inform your Right to Buy decision — EPC ratings reveal energy efficiency and potential improvement costs, flood and subsidence risk assessments highlight environmental concerns, local comparable prices show what similar properties sell for, and planning data shows the property's context. Making a six-figure purchase decision deserves proper data, even when a discount makes the price attractive.