WIREDGOV

Thousands of social tenants across the country will this week receive details of how they can exercise their Right to Buy and become first-time homeowners. 

Under the last government, the numbers of people taking up the Right to Buy their council home fell dramatically as the level of available discounts dropped.

But since the launch of the reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme, over 22,500 people have benefited from expert support and the thousands of pounds offered in discounts to become homeowners.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:

I’m committed to ensuring that eligible council and housing association tenants have up-to-date information about their Right to Buy.

That’s why for the next 2 weeks, around 900,000 households will receive the information they need to choose whether home ownership is right for them. This will help them decide whether to follow in the footsteps of the 22,500 people who have already become homeowners through the Right to Buy scheme.

We will be telling them about the new levels of discount available and theRight to Buy Agent service launched last month that can give reliable personal advice from start to finish of the process. There might never be a better time for eligible council and housing association tenants to make this life-changing decision for them and their family.

Reinvigorating the Right to Buy

From this week, around 900,000 council and housing association tenants will receive letters and leaflets through their letterbox, explaining the first steps they can take to become homeowners, provided they are eligible and can afford it.

Details will also be available through advertisements in selected local papers.

Anyone wanting further information will be directed to the government’s dedicated website – and they can also contact the Right to Buy Agent service through a local-rate phone number to talk through the process.

Depending on how long they have lived in social housing, tenants can benefit from an increased maximum £77,000 discount across England, or £102,700 in London. The maximum level of discount on houses has now risen to 70%, bringing it in line with flats as was the case in 1980 when Right to Buy began.

Receipts from Right to Buy sales continue to be invested in house building, so every additional home sold since the reinvigoration is replaced with a new affordable home to rent.

Further information

Anyone looking to take up their Right to Buy can visit the Right to Buy website, or call the dedicated team of Right to Buy advisers on 0300 123 0913.