Right to Buy mortgage scheme

There are four steps you'll need to take if you want to apply to purchase your council property under the Right to Buy scheme (this doesn't include securing a mortgage, which we'll discuss below).

Here's what you need to do:

1. Fill in an RTB1 application form. Follow the link to the form and it tells you all the information you'll need to include and send to your landlord.
   
   
2. Send the application form to your landlord. Once you've completed the online form, you can save, print and sign it. Send the printed form by recorded delivery to your landlord (so you know once it's been delivered).
   
   
3. You'll then get an answer as to whether your landlord is willing to sell. Your landlord must respond within four weeks of your application (eight weeks if they've been your landlord for less than three years). Where the answer is no, the landlord should state their reasons for declining.
   
   You'll only be able to appeal against a 'no' if the reason for being declined is that the property you want to buy is suitable for elderly people. To do this, you'd need to appeal to a tribunal.
   
   
4. If your landlord agrees to sell, they will send you an offer. This offer must be sent within eight weeks of their agreeing to the sale if you're buying a freehold property, or 12 weeks if you're buying a leasehold. The offer will include details of:
   

• The price they think you should pay for the property and how it was worked out.
• Your level of discount and how it was worked out.
• A description of the property and any land included in the price.
• Estimates of any service charges for the first five years.
• Any known problems affecting the property's structure, for example subsidence.

You'll have 12 weeks after you get your landlord's offer to tell them whether or not you want to buy the property. Once this time is up, your landlord will then send you a reminder if you haven't replied to the offer. You have 28 days to reply to them, or the landlord could drop your application.

Don't worry: you can pull out of the sale and continue to rent at any time.

What happens if I disagree with my landlord's offer? 

If you disagree with your landlord's offer and think they have set your home's market value too high, you have to write to them within three months of getting the offer and ask for an independent valuation. A district valuer from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will then visit your property and decide how much it's worth.

You'll have 12 weeks to accept HMRC's valuation or pull out of the sale.