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 fill out the form and send to your landlord.
   
   
2. Send the application form to your landlord. Once you've completed the online form, you can save it, print it out and sign in the relevant places. Send the printed form by recorded to your landlord (this way you'll know when your landlord has received it).
   
   
3. You'll then get an answer to whether or not 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 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 with the property's structure, for example subsidence.

You'll have 12 weeks after you get your landlord's offer to tell it if 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 it, 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 it has set your home's market value too high, you have to write to it within three months of getting the offer and ask for an independent valuation. A district valuer from HM Revenue and 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.

My landlord is delaying – what can I do?  

Your landlord must respond to your application within the timeframes set out above. If they don't, you might be able to get a further reduction off the sale price of your home.

To get a reduction because of a delay, fill in the 'Initial notice of delay' form (RTB6) and send it to your landlord. Your landlord must then either move the sale along within one month or send you a 'counter notice'. The counter notice will say that it has already replied, or explain why it can't speed things up.

If your landlord doesn't reply within a month of getting the RTB6, fill in the 'Operative notice of delay' form (RTB8). This means any rent you pay while you're waiting to hear from your landlord could be taken off the sale price. You can do this each time your landlord is late getting back to you.

Don't forget you'll need to apply for a mortgage too

If you do decide to buy, ultimately you're responsible for how you finance buying your home – your landlord can't arrange this for you. This means you'll have to go through the same process of applying for a mortgage as anyone else buying a property without the Right to Buy scheme.

Buying a property is a big decision and not something that should be taken lightly. Consider all the costs, not just the mortgage repayments. You'll have additional costs and responsibilities you may not have had as a tenant, such as repairs and maintenance.

If this is the first home you'll have owned, have a read of our First-time buyers' guide beforehand for what to expect during the home-buying process, including surveys and applying for a mortgage. We've also got a Cheap mortgage finding guide with tips on how to find the right mortgage for you, including the benefits of using a broker.

Plus, if you buy a flat, you'll probably be a leaseholder, and will likely have to pay a service charge to the housing association/council for maintenance of the building and surrounding area. We've got a whole guide explaining what a leasehold is – see Leasehold versus freehold.