Right to Buy Mortgages

Originally being introduced back in the 80’s the UK Right to Buy Scheme is still very much alive and well for tenants who wish to buy their council home at a discount.

The scheme has undergone changes since then, with schemes existing in various local authority areas across the nation that may allow tenants to use Right to Buy with housing associations too. Thousands of tenants over the years have taken advantage of Right to Buy to become homeowners.

The Right to Buy Scheme allows tenants to buy their property from their local council for a discounted price. The amount of discount that you receive depends on how long you’ve lived there.

You must have been a public sector (council, housing association or NHS Trust) tenant for at least three years and the longer you have been a tenant the more discount you will get.

No, lenders will accept the right to buy discount as your deposit. It is still worth remembering that you may need to have some of your own money saved for any fees that are incurred.

Any family member is able to buy your council home, providing they have been signed onto the tenancy for at least 1 year. If you are married or have a civil partner, providing they already live with you, they can also have tenancy transferred to them.

At that point, they would be eligible for the Right to Buy scheme in that home, however it would be in their name, not yours.

Being on any form of benefits will not change your legal Right to Buy eligibility, however any lender will need to make sure you are able to afford your monthly mortgage repayments.

One thing that may be affected is your ability to receive certain benefits, such as Housing Benefit, which cannot be received if you are a homeowner.

A mortgage broker like us can search 1000’s of deals to find you the most suitable mortgage for your circumstances. Book your free mortgage appointment online to speak to a mortgage advisor today.