Hardworking council house tenants who want to buy the council home they live in will now benefit from higher Right to Buy discounts.
From this week, a new team of Right to Buy advisers will also be on hand to offer free advice, support and information for any tenant who dreams of becoming a homeowner.
The maximum discount caps available have also increased, so from now tenants can benefit from as much as £77,000 off the value of their home outside London, and £102,700 in the capital.
Right to Buy agents
Tenants wanting to buy their own home can ring a dedicated local rate helpline to speak to a member of the new Right to Buy agent service.
The service, appointed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will provide free advice at each stage of the purchase, including helping tenants avoid hidden fees some independent financial advisers charge.
Opening the door to homeownership
Over 19,500 people have become homeowners through the reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme.
Launched in 2012, the discount cap was increased to a maximum £75,000, and further increased in London to £100,000 in 2013.
But now, the maximum cash discount will increase each year by the Consumer Price Index level of inflation – meaning the new discounts now stand at £102,700 in London and £77,000 across England.
The maximum percentage discount on houses has now also increased from 60 per cent to 70 per cent bringing it into line with flats as was the case when the Right to Buy was first introduced in 1980.
Receipts from Right to Buy sales will continue to be invested in housebuilding, so every additional home sold is replaced with a new affordable home to rent.
And a new streamlined, more user-friendly application form will make it easier for tenants to navigate the process. New features include a checklist to ensure applicants have fully completed all sections of the form, and a ‘next steps’ tear off page so people know what to expect when their application is considered.
The Right to Buy agent helpline number is 0300 123 0913. For more information on the service visit: www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy.
The new form is available at www.gov.uk in the DCLG section.
