Low cost home ownership – Right to Buy isn’t the only choice!
Lewisham Council work in partnership with Registered Social Housing providers that offer a range of low cost home schemes. Download the Right to Buy leaflet for more information. Further information about home ownership can also be found on the Lewisham Council's website.
Who has the Right to Buy?
Most council tenants have the right to buy their home at a discount. In order to buy your council home, you must be a secure tenant. Most Council tenants are secure tenants. You are not a secure tenant if you are in a hostel, bed & breakfast hotel, short-life property, or similar temporary letting.
Your house or flat must be a separate home and you must occupy it as your main home.
You must have held a public sector tenancy for at least two years. If your first public sector tenancy commenced after 17 January 2005, then you need to have been a tenant for a minimum of five years to be eligible for the Right to Buy.
If you had the Right to Buy under the management of Lewisham Council, you still have the Right to Buy under Lewisham Homes.
Can I buy any council property?
No, the Right to Buy only allows you to purchase the home that you live in as a secure tenant.
Exceptions to the Right to Buy
Some types of homes are excluded from the Right to Buy, these include:
- some sheltered housing;
- some homes that are particularly suitable for elderly people and have been let to someone of pensionable age, or someone with a disability;
- homes that are purpose-built or substantially adapted for people with disabilities;
- a temporary home provided during redevelopment;
- some, but not all, lettings to people whose homes go with their jobs, for example caretakers; and
- homes that are due to be demolished.
Right to Buy – Rent Arrears
If you have rent arrears then you may not have the Right to Buy your home, as you may no longer be a secure tenant. You should contact your Income Officer if you have rent arrears. They will be able to check the action that has been taken to recover the debt and advise if you are still a secure tenant.
What type of tenure will I receive?
If you live in a house you will usually be able to purchase the Freehold.
If you purchase a flat you will be granted the leasehold. The lease will be for a maximum of 125 years.
How much will my home cost?
The open market value less the discount. The cost the Council has incurred to build, repair, maintain or improve your home in the 10 years before you applied to buy may limit the amount of discount.
The discount must not reduce the price you pay below the amount that has been spent on it. However, where the market value is less than the amount spent you will pay the market value.
What discount can I receive?
The maximum discount available to tenants in the London Borough of Lewisham is £75,000. The amount that you actually receive will depend on the amount of time you have been a tenant.
Can members of my family buy with me?
Only members of your family who live in the property as their main home can buy with you. The Right to Buy may be shared with up to three members of your family, and the property must be the main home for all of them. Anyone, other than your wife or husband who wants to buy with you must have lived with you for 12 months before you apply.
The Right to Buy Process
If you would like to apply for the Right to Buy Scheme, or obtain further information please contact the Right to Buy team on 0800 028 2 028 - Press 5 (It may be cheaper to call 020 8613 4000 from a mobile).
We will send you a Right to Buy Information and Application Pack. The pack will contain important information that you should read carefully, as becoming a Home Owner has advantages and disadvantages.
It is important that you consider the Health, Social and Financial circumstances of your family to ensure that you make a decision that is right for you.
How do I claim the Right to Buy?
Complete the application form enclosed in the pack, which should be returned to:
Leasehold Services
Home Park Housing Office
129 Winchfield Road
Sydenham, London
SE26 5TH
We will then confirm in writing if you have the Right to Buy your home. If you have been a public sector tenant for at lease two years before 17 January 2005 or five years since this date, you will normally be entitled to buy your current home at a discounted price.
If you have the Right to Buy, we will arrange for your home to be valued, we will then be able to tell you:
- the market value of your home;
- any defects that have been taken into account in the valuation;
- the amount of discount you will receive and
- the discounted price at which you can purchase the property.
The discount you receive will depend on the number of qualifying years that you have been a public sector tenant the maximum discount that you could receive is £16,000.
You will be informed of any service charges that you may be expected to pay, as well as any contribution that you may have to make towards the cost of any work to the common parts and structure of the building and any works to the external communal areas or estate.
When you receive details of the discounted price that you can purchase the property, you will then be given a number of options:
- you can accept the offer and proceed to purchase the property;
- have the market value re-determined by the district valuer; and
- withdraw your Right to Buy.
If you decide not to proceed with the purchase of your home, you can withdraw your application at any time before completion. You can re-apply at a later date if you change your mind or your circumstances change.
