Housing

Right to Buy, Compensation for Improvements and Leasehold Service Charges

The Housing Act 1985 (As amended) and The Common hold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 are principal legislation governing tenants' eligibility for the right to buy, compensation for improvements and leaseholders rights.

Leaseholders have the right to be consulted about major works and long term agreements, the right to information about service charges and the right to challenge the reasonableness of those charges.

Our Service to you

Right to Buy Service Standards PDF 732K

This leaflet gives a general overview about how we provide and effective and efficient service to all leaseholders and what you can expect.

To view PDF files requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Right to Buy

The Right to Buy is available to secure council tenants who wish to purchase the home they live in. Communities and Local Government has produced a range of information which is available on this topic.

If your secure tenancy was in existence before 18 January 2005, or you were a public sector tenant before 18 January 2005 (and you have been a public sector tenant continuously since that time), you do not have the Right to buy until you have spent at least 2 years as a public sector tenant.

Examples of a public sector tenancies

This authority
Another 'Right to Buy' Landlord
Certain public bodies
Accommodation provided by the armed forces

For anyone else you do not have the Right to Buy until you have spent at least 5 years as a public sector tenant.

If the right to buy is accepted, the tenant is entitled to a discount, which will be between 32% to 60% for a house and 44% to 70% for a flat. Maximum discount is £38,000.

Your right to buy your home PDF 212K

A guide for tenants on how to go through the process of buying your home.

The property cannot be purchased if:

It is sheltered housing for the elderly, the physically disabled, the mentally ill or mentally disabled. There are special rules in these cases
It is particularly suitable for elderly people and it was let before 1 January 1990 to be lived in by someone aged over 60 or more
It is being used as temporary housing until the landlord re-develops it
As employee of the landlord (only in some cases)
The landlord has rented the property from someone else and has to give it back empty when the owner asks for it

We are required by law to provide information on the process of The Right to Buy for all our secure tenants.

We have produced a document that provides Information on the Right to Buy ( PDF 557K). This document gives information about:

Who may possibly have the Right to Buy
Right to Buy exceptions
Right to Buy procedures
The costs and fees

Home ownership service - deeds

Where a property has been sold under the Right to Buy, we do not retain the title deeds.

If you have bought your property with a mortgage or loan, the deeds will be retained by your lender.

Your title deeds are important documents. If you hold the deeds to your property yourself, you should ensure that they are kept in a secure place.

Compensation for improvements

It may be possible for council tenants to get compensation on improvements that they have made to the property, once their tenancy is ending.

The improvement claimed for must be on the qualifying list and the person claiming must qualify under section 99b (2) of the Leasehold Reform (Housing and Urban Development) Act 1993.

Applications must be made 28 days prior to the termination of the tenancy or before the 14th day after the termination of the tenancy.

A Better Deal for Tenants - Your Right to Compensation for Improvements PDF 210K

Leasehold service charges

Under the terms of the lease leaseholders pay a share of the costs of maintaining the structure and shared parts of the block as well as our costs for providing services.

At the beginning of each financial year leaseholders receive an estimate of our costs and contribution to the 'reserve fund'. The estimate is based on the previous year's actual costs adjusted to allow for inflation. The financial year covers the period from 1st April to 31st March.

You can pay your service charge online by selecting sundry debtors in the fund drop down menu.

More information about leasing and service and communal repairs|

Leaseholders Guide PDF 90K|

Summary PDF 35K|

Summary - Albanian PDF 45K|

Summary - Chinese PDF 370K|

Summary - Turkish PDF 196K|

Warning about 'Right to Buy Service Companies'|

We are aware of companies advertising to help tenants buy under the 'Right to Buy' scheme. Beware; companies doing this have the sole aim of exploiting tenants under the pretence of helping.

Right to Buy documents and application forms|

Forms for applying for right to buy, accepting or not proceeding and other relevant forms.

Contents Insurance|

The Council have endorsed a contents insurance package run by Jardine Lloyd Thompson which gives all tenants, leaseholders and right to buy property residents access to contents insurance at a reasonable price.

Independent Advice|

Independent advice on services, tribunal, solicitors and other financial advice.