The Right to Buy Scheme

You can contact us at RTB@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Please submit documents in their original paper formats, signed in ink where required and by recorded mail to:

The Right to Buy Department 
Nottingham City Council 
Loxley House
Station Street
Nottingham
NG2 3NG

Tel: 0115 746 9977

Section 120 & Schedule 5 of the Housing Act 1985 – We can no longer accept new applications for the Right to Buy scheme for Victoria Centre tenants. This is due to the lease life remaining being 50 years or less.

This does not affect your right to buy should you become the tenant of another property in the future, subject to the qualifying criteria of the Right to Buy scheme at that time.

If you are experiencing delays at any stage of the process, you can action the delay procedure if you meet one of the criteria below.

If you have:

• Sent in an application form more than four weeks ago and have not yet had a response informing you that your application has been admitted or denied or
• Have received the blue RTB2 form saying you have been admitted the right to buy more than eight weeks ago (if you are buying a house) or 12 weeks ago (if you are purchasing a flat or maisonette) but have not yet received the formal offer letter or
• Have accepted the offer to purchase by returning the Notice of Intention form more than four weeks ago.

More information.

• Please click here for advice on what to do if you feel any unnecessary delays in the Right to Buy process. Right to Buy: buying your council home: Delays - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We suggest that you only obtain a mortgage offer in principle and do not pay any mortgage fees before you accept our offer to purchase. Mortgage offers in writing have expiry dates, and we cannot guarantee that we can complete the property sale within the usual timescales.

• The current maximum discount amount available within the East Midlands region is £24,000
• This affects all applications received on or since the 21st November 2024
• If your discount entitlement amounts to more than £24,000, it will be capped back to £24,000
• If your entitlement is less than £24,000 you will receive the full amount

To buy your house:

• You must hold a secure tenancy 
• Use it as your main home,
• Have minimum of 3 years in total (including council or housing association tenancy)

There will be further eligibility criteria.

Information on how to apply can be found on GOV.UK.

• Right to Buy: buying your council home: Overview - GOV.UK

Providing the joint tenant who does not want to purchase is happy for you to purchase the property without them and signs the application form where required, this may be possible. We may wish to speak to the non-purchasing tenant and carry out additional checks. The tenant who is purchasing must reside at the property as their main home.

Family members who live with you can join in the purchase providing they meet the family member criteria. We will ask you to provide evidence of relationship and residency where required.

Up to 4 people can legally purchase a property jointly (including the tenant(s)) providing they are aged 18 or over. 

More information can be found on GOV.UK.

• Right to Buy: buying your council home: Overview - GOV.UK

Information on Discounts can be found on GOV.UK

The Right to Buy scheme is set in legislation which from time to time is amended by the Government. 

Currently the legislation requires tenants to submit a paper application form to the Right to Buy team of their local authority 

• You’ll be notified of our decision within 4 weeks 

If you're admitted to Right to Buy

• If you live in a house or bungalow, expect your offer letter within 8 weeks, following our decision.
• If you live in a flat or maisonette, expect it within 12 weeks, following our decision.

You may be eligible to follow the Delay Process. Forms must be submitted in paper format and signed in ink.

• More info: Right to Buy: GOV.UK – Delays

Most tenants do but you can use savings to pay for the property if you have the means to do so.

We cannot recommend a mortgage provider to you as we need to remain unbiased, but most tenants are recommended by family or friends who have used one, alternatively you can approach your own bank to see what they can offer.

Yes. Choose a conveyancing solicitor, preferably one experienced in Right to Buy. Ask for a fee breakdown to ensure you can cover costs.

Yes, but two restrictions apply:

• Discount Repayment: You may need to repay some or all of your discount if you sell the property within 5 years
• First Refusal (10 years): You must offer the property back to the Council before you market the property for sale in the first 10 years

First Refusal form (To be completed, if you sell the property within the first 10 years, return to Housing.Network@nottinghamcity.gov.uk) 

Email the Right to Buy team: RTB@nottinghamcity.gov.uk