TL;DR
Right to Buy in the UK - key points
Right to Buy lets qualifying council tenants in England, and some housing association tenants with a preserved right to buy, buy their home at a discount. You start with the RTB1 form, receive the landlord's offer with the discounted price, and then arrange a mortgage and a solicitor.
In many cases the discount can help as a deposit, but the bank still checks income, spending, credit history, the property and council documents. An adviser can help choose a lender that understands Right to Buy.
Before accepting the purchase offer, check whether the discounted price, council documents, legal position and affordability fit lender requirements. This helps avoid having an offer but no suitable lender or not enough time for formalities.
What is Right to Buy?
Right to Buy allows qualifying council tenants in England, and some housing association tenants with a preserved right to buy, to buy the home they live in with a statutory discount. The scheme has ended in Scotland (2016) and Wales (2019), and Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants have a separate house sales scheme. For the mortgage, the bank assesses not only the discounted price, but also income, credit history, council documents, property type and whether the discount can be treated as deposit.
This page is for UK tenants considering buying from the council and wanting to understand whether the discount can work as deposit, how the mortgage works and which formalities need planning.
The discount can help with deposit
Some banks may accept the Right to Buy discount as deposit, but the final decision depends on lender criteria and your situation.
Deadlines and documents matter
The council, bank and solicitor each work through their own stages. We help connect them into one clear plan.
Eligibility
Who can use Right to Buy?
Council tenants
For secure council tenants in England who have been public sector tenants for at least 3 years in total (not necessarily in a row) and meet the other scheme conditions.
Some public sector tenants
In some cases, the scheme may also apply to tenants of other public sector landlords, depending on tenancy type and property history.
Joint purchase with family
The application may sometimes include a spouse, civil partner or selected family members living with you for the required period.
Mortgage-ready applicants
The right to buy does not mean automatic mortgage approval. The bank still checks income, spending, credit history and the property.
If this will be your first property purchase, also check the process for First-Time Buyers in the UK.
7 steps
What does the Right to Buy process look like?
It is worth breaking the Right to Buy process into steps because the council decision, purchase offer and mortgage must fit together. This shows when documents are needed, when to check the bank and when to involve the solicitor.
- 1
Eligibility check
We check whether the tenancy, property type and household situation fit Right to Buy rules.
- 2
RTB1 application
You submit the RTB1 form to the council or qualifying public sector landlord. The current RTB1 form can be downloaded directly from GOV.UK.
- 3
Landlord response
Your landlord must reply within 4 weeks (8 weeks in some cases) to confirm whether you have the right to buy.
- 4
Purchase offer
You receive the formal offer with the proposed price, how it was worked out, the discount and, for flats, estimated service charges for the first 5 years. You usually have 12 weeks to reply.
- 5
Mortgage selection
We check which banks may accept Right to Buy and whether the discount can work as deposit.
- 6
Application and solicitor
We submit the mortgage application and the solicitor handles the legal purchase work.
- 7
Completion
Once the mortgage and legal documents are accepted, the purchase completes and the home becomes yours.
Mortgage
Why is lender choice important with Right to Buy?
Right to Buy is not a standard open-market purchase. The bank must accept the purchase rules, discount, council documents and your affordability. An adviser can check which banks may realistically consider the case, how they view your credit history and which documents to prepare before applying.
If you want to prepare before speaking to a lender, also check how credit history in the UK works.
Discount as deposit
In many cases, the bank may treat the Right to Buy discount as part or all of the deposit.
Lenders with RTB experience
Not every lender treats council purchases in the same way, so lender choice matters.
Fewer process mistakes
We help align council deadlines, lender requirements, documents and solicitor work.
Support in English or Polish
We explain the scheme clearly and help you prepare the next step.
Before the conversation, you can prepare questions for the broker. See: How to choose a mortgage in the UK.
Discount, deposit and purchase costs
With Right to Buy, the discount can reduce the purchase price and may sometimes replace a traditional deposit. The bank will still assess whether the mortgage payment is affordable, whether the property meets criteria and whether council documents are complete. If you have no savings, it may also be worth reading about buying without a deposit. It can also help to check how much you can borrow with your current income and commitments.
Example: if the council values the home at £200,000 and your Right to Buy discount is £20,000, the purchase price is £180,000. In England the maximum discount depends on your area (currently between £16,000 and £38,000). Some lenders may treat the discount as your deposit and consider lending up to the discounted price, subject to affordability; others may cap the loan differently or ask for some savings as well. Rules vary between lenders, so it is worth checking this before applying.
Scheme rules and discount limits can change, so before deciding it is worth comparing the information with the official programme description on GOV.UK.
Upfront costs
- legal fees and conveyancing,
- possible property valuation,
- Stamp Duty Land Tax, if the discounted price you pay is above the threshold that applies to you,
- broker or lender fee, if applicable,
- buildings insurance and purchase-related costs.
Ongoing costs
- Council tax, bills and home insurance,
- repairs you become responsible for as the owner,
- service charge or building costs if you buy a leasehold flat.
If you sell the property soon after buying it, you may have to repay part of the discount. With flats, leasehold terms and future building maintenance costs are also important.
Important details
What else should you know about Right to Buy?
Not every Right to Buy case looks the same. Before accepting the purchase offer, check the rules that may affect the discount, mortgage, ownership and future sale of the property.
- If you used Right to Buy before, the discount may be lower.
- For a joint purchase, the years of the person with the longest public sector tenancy can matter.
- If you sell within 5 years, you may have to repay some or all of the discount. If you sell within 10 years, you must usually first offer the home to your former landlord or another social landlord in the area.
- Confirm with your solicitor and lender who will be named on the title and mortgage, in line with the approved Right to Buy application.
Can I afford a Right to Buy mortgage?
Affordability depends on income, spending, commitments, credit history, age, employment type and discounted price. The calculator below shows only an indicative borrowing range based on income. With Right to Buy, the council offer and specific lender criteria must be checked separately. If you are unsure how a bank will view your history, read the guide to credit history in the UK.
If you want to understand how banks assess income, see also Mortgage in the UK - Q&A
Your income
The calculator shows an indicative range based on annual gross income and an income multiplier. It is not a mortgage decision.
Results
Estimated borrowing range
£180,000
at multiplier 4.5×
- Total gross income
- £40,000
- Conservative estimate (4x)
- £160,000
- Higher estimate (5x)
- £200,000
Note: this result is indicative. With Right to Buy, the bank also assesses council documents, discount, purchase price, legal position and deposit requirements.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who can use Right to Buy?
In England, Right to Buy mainly applies to secure council tenants buying their only or main, self-contained home. You normally need at least three years with a public-sector landlord, which need not be consecutive. Some tenants whose council home transferred to another landlord retain Preserved Right to Buy; ask the landlord to confirm the route and any property exclusions.
How much discount can I get with Right to Buy?
In England, the discount depends on how long you have been a public sector tenant, whether the home is a house or a flat, and the maximum discount for your area (currently £16,000 to £38,000, and never more than 70% of the value). It can also be reduced if your landlord has spent money building, buying or improving the home in the last 30 years (the "cost floor"). Your landlord's offer shows the exact discount, and GOV.UK explains the current limits.
Where can I download the RTB1 form?
The current RTB1 form can be downloaded directly from GOV.UK. Before sending it, make sure you are using the latest version and that the property qualifies for Right to Buy.
Can I make a joint Right to Buy application?
You can apply with someone who shares your tenancy, or with up to three family members who have lived with you for the past 12 months, even if they are not named on the tenancy. The landlord checks the scheme conditions, and a lender separately assesses anyone applying for the mortgage. Confirm the proposed applicants before completing the RTB1 form.
What documents are needed for a Right to Buy mortgage?
Lenders usually ask for income documents, bank statements, ID, details of commitments and council documents, including the RTB1 response and purchase offer. The exact list depends on the lender and stage.
Do I need my own deposit for Right to Buy?
Often the Right to Buy discount can be treated by the bank as part or all of the deposit, but this is not automatic. It depends on the lender, discounted price, affordability, council documents and property details. Some banks may still require additional savings.
Will every bank accept a Right to Buy purchase?
No. Each lender has its own criteria for Right to Buy, discount, deposit, property type and applicant profile. Check lender criteria before a full application.
What happens if I sell the home after buying it?
If you sell within 5 years, you may have to repay some or all of the discount; the percentage reduces each year. If you sell within 10 years, you must usually offer the home to your former landlord or another social landlord first. Check GOV.UK and your purchase conditions, including any exceptions.