If you hold a secure tenancy with us, and 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 some exemptions to this scheme. You are not eligible if:

• Your home is part of a sheltered housing scheme for the elderly.
• You are a declared bankrupt.
• The property isn't your main home.
• The property isn't self-contained (has a shared kitchen or bathroom).
• There's a court order saying you must leave your home.
• You owe money to creditors.

To apply, you need to fill in a RTB1 application form or you can request this form 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, we 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 £75,000. The size of your discount will depend on how long you have been a tenant, where you live and the type of property you are buying (whether it is a flat or a house). If you sell your home within five years you will have to pay back some of the discount.

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.