Right to Buy

Right to Buy allows eligible council tenants in England to purchase their home at a discount. The scheme has been in place since the 1980s but is undergoing significant reform.

• You must have spent at least 3 years as a public sector tenant (this does not need to be continuous)
• Discount depends on the length of your tenancy and the type of property (house or flat). The discount percentage increases the longer you have been a tenant
• Cannot be used for buy to let purposes, business premises, or properties subject to specific exemptions (e.g. adapted homes for older people, properties scheduled for demolition)

The government introduced the Social Housing Bill on 14 May 2026, which brings the proposals below into a single piece of legislation. It has not yet completed its passage through Parliament, so current rules still apply until it becomes law. If you are already eligible under the current rules, the window to apply may narrow, so it is worth acting sooner rather than later.

• Tenancy requirement extended to 10 years: Tenants would need to have been a public sector tenant for at least 10 years before becoming eligible, up from the current 3 years
• Discount reduced to 5% to 15%: Discounts would start at 5% of the property value after 10 years of tenancy, increasing by 1% per year up to a maximum of 15% (after 20 years). Cash caps would also apply
• New build social housing exempt for 35 years: Newly built council homes would be protected from Right to Buy for 35 years, allowing councils to retain housing stock
• Discount repayment period extended to 10 years: If you sell a property bought through Right to Buy within 10 years (up from 5), the council can reclaim part or all of the discount
• Right of first refusal in perpetuity: Councils would permanently retain the right to buy back a former Right to Buy property when it is resold
• Councils keep 100% of receipts from 2026 to 2027: Sale proceeds can be retained and combined with government grant funding to build replacement homes

The reforms listed above are not yet law. If you are considering Right to Buy, the current rules (3 year tenancy, current discount levels) still apply. Check your eligibility at gov.uk/right-to-buy-buying-your-council-home.