Home Ownership Service - Right To Buy

If you hold a secure tenancy with Harrow Council, and you have been a tenant for five years (two if your first tenancy started before 18 January 2005) then you may be eligible to purchase your property under the right to buy scheme.

There are several exceptions to the Right to Buy, such as if your home is part of a sheltered housing scheme for the elderly or you are a declared bankrupt.   The home ownership team will be able to give you further details where the right to buy is exempt.

To apply, you need to fill in an application form known as a RTB1 or you can request this from the home ownership team.   A Right to Buy booklet has also been produced which explains how the process works. This can also be requested from the team.

Once your right to buy has been accepted, the Council will arrange for a valuation and survey, you do not have to pay for this.   We will send you the valuation within three-months of your application.   You will receive a discount dependant on how long you have been a tenant.

The maximum discount we are allowed to give you is £16,000.

You may be able to buy your home with a sharing family member.  Details of this are on the form and in the booklet.

You will lose your right to buy if your tenancy ceases to be a secure tenancy.

If you are purchasing a flat or maisonette you will have to pay service charges to the council.   This is explained in the booklet and an estimate of these charges would be sent to you with the valuation reports.