The Council has recently launched
something called Social Homebuy to supplement Right to Buy. We are
one of only a handful of Councils in the country piloting the
idea.
Only tenants are eligible for this and more details can be found on
the
Social Homebuy page
of this site
The Right to Buy is a Government run scheme that allows some
tenants to purchase the property that they rent from the Council.
For eligible tenants the price of the property will be offered at a
price lower than the full market value.
Who is eligible?
You do not have the Right to Buy until you have spent at least 2
years as a public sector tenant (or 5 years in the case of new
public sector tenants who take up their tenancies after 18 January
2005) and you are currently a tenant of a 'Right to Buy'
landlord.
Who cannot buy?
- any tenant who has a service tenancy in connection with their
job
- any sheltered housing tenant
- any tenant whose home has been adapted or is particularly
suitable for use by the disabled or elderly.
What discount will I receive?
You could receive up to a maximum discount of
£34,000 depending on the amount of time that you have been a
tenant.
How long will it take?
There is no defined time period but the process is as
follows:
Once the Council has received a properly completed RTB1 form, it
must adhere to certain deadlines set down by the Housing Act 1985.
Assuming the applicant has a right to buy then the property will be
valued and a formal offer notice sent out to you. The papers will
then be sent out to the Council's legal team to complete the
necessary conveyancing.
Reselling
You can sell your Council house at any time after you have
purchased it but if you bought your property before 18 January 2005
and you sell within three years you will have to repay some or all
of the discount you received;
If you sell your property before the first anniversary of
completion then you pay back the whole of the discount you
received. If you sell before the second anniversary you pay back
two thirds and if you sell before the third anniversary you pay
back one third.
For example, let's say you completed your purchase on 20 July 2003
and received a £34,000 discount. If you sell the property before 20
July 2004 you repay £34,000. If you sell before 20 July 2005 you
pay £22,666 and if you sell before 20 July 2006 you repay
£11,333.
Please note that applications to purchase properties received by
the Council after 18 January 2005 are subject to a five year
repayment period.
The Council will be able to provide the appropriate figure. Contact
the Legal Team on 01502 562111.
You can later buy another council house but there are special rules
relating to discount in such circumstances. You could take
independent advice on this point.
Appeals
If you are refused permission to buy your Council house you could
take independent legal advice and consider challenging that
decision. The grounds on which a landlord can refuse permission are
set down in law and you are entitled to know the reason why you
have been refused.
If you are dissatisfied with the purchase price contained in the
Council's offer notice then you are entitled to appeal. If you wish
to appeal you must do so within three months from the date of the
offer notice by writing to the Council requesting a re-valuation.
The Council will then refer the matter to the District Valuer for
the area in which the property falls and a re-valuation will be
carried out. If you are outside the three month period for appeal
you may still be able to appeal in some circumstances; you could
take independent advice on this point.
Advice
A full guide to Your Right to Buy Your home is available on
the Buying, Selling, Owning a Home section of the
Communities and Local Government website.
The Council's Housing Team can also provide information on buying
your Council house but for impartial advice you should contact your
solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau -
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
It is a matter for you as to whether you use a solicitor when
buying your Council House. You may consider it prudent to do so in
order to obtain independent legal advice. If you are buying your
property with the aid of a mortgage then it may be a requirement of
the lender that a solicitor be instructed to advise you both.
Surveys
It is for you to decide whether or not you obtain a structural
survey prior to buying your Council house. However, if you are
purchasing with the aid of a mortgage then it may be a requirement
of your lender. In any case you may consider it prudent to do
so.
Deeds
Where a property has been sold under the Right to Buy, the Council
does 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.
Application Forms
If you would like an application form for the Right to Buy your
Council property, please use the contact details below. Forms must
be returned to the Council's Housing Team or the Town Hall, High
Street, Lowestoft.
The Council's Housing Team can give you general assistance
when completing your application form.
E-mail:
hes@waveney.gov.uk
Telephone:
| Beccles |
01502 711678 |
| Bungay |
01986 894121 |
Carlton Colville/
Kessingland |
01502 523169 |
| Gunton |
01502 523125
01502 523126 |
| Normanston |
01502 523165 |
| North Lowestoft |
01502 523127 |
Southwold/
Halesworth |
01502 523166 |
| Whitton |
01502
523121 |
Please note that where information provided here has a
legal aspect, it are not intended to be a substitute for the
need to take legal advice. The Council's legal team is unable to
provide legal advice to members of the public and if you have
queries of a legal nature you should please take independent legal
advice. You may wish for example to contact the Lowestoft Citizens
Advice Bureau (tel: 01502 565875) or Bungay (01986 895827) or to
take advice from a firm of solicitors.