Right to Buy
Solicitors
Buying your council house or housing association property under the Right to Buy scheme? You need a solicitor to handle the conveyancing — and one who acts in your interests, not your landlord's.
At PDA Law, we handle Right to Buy conveyancing for tenants across England and Wales. We will explain the process, confirm your costs in writing, and manage everything from instruction to completion.
- Solicitor-led — not a paralegal or case handler
- One point of contact throughout
- Clear, VAT-inclusive pricing confirmed in writing
- We act for you — not your landlord
- Acting across England and Wales
No obligation — talk through your options first.
Get a Right to Buy quote
Instant, personalised conveyancing quote — no obligation. Clear, VAT-inclusive pricing.
Start Your Online QuotePowered by Perfect Portal · No obligation
The Scheme
What is the Right to Buy scheme?
The Right to Buy scheme gives eligible council and housing association tenants in England the right to purchase their home at a significant discount. The scheme has helped millions of tenants become homeowners since it was introduced in 1980. If you have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years, you may be eligible to buy your home at a discount of up to 70% of its market value.
Houses
Discount starts at 35% after 3 years. Increases by 1% per year up to a maximum of 70% (or the cash cap — currently £96,000 in England).
Flats
Discount starts at 50% after 3 years. Increases by 2% per year up to a maximum of 70% (or the cash cap).
Discount as deposit
Your Right to Buy discount can often be used as your mortgage deposit — meaning you may be able to buy with little or no cash upfront.
The Process
How Right to Buy conveyancing works
The Right to Buy process involves both an application stage (dealing with your landlord) and a conveyancing stage (the legal transfer of ownership). You should instruct a solicitor as early as possible — ideally before you submit your application — so that you are ready to proceed quickly once your landlord accepts.
Application (RTB1 form)
You submit your Right to Buy application to your landlord using the RTB1 form. Your landlord has 4 weeks to confirm whether you are eligible (8 weeks if they have been your landlord for less than 3 years).
Section 125 Notice
If your application is accepted, your landlord sends you a Section 125 Notice — the formal offer setting out the purchase price (after discount), the property description, and any structural defects. You have 12 weeks to accept or reject.
Instruct a solicitor
Once you accept the Section 125 Notice, you instruct a solicitor to handle the conveyancing. We will carry out searches, review the title, deal with your mortgage lender (if applicable), and manage the legal transfer.
Exchange and completion
Once all legal work is complete, we exchange contracts and complete the purchase. You become the legal owner of your home and we register the transfer at Land Registry.
Important: the resale restriction
If you sell the property within 5 years of buying under Right to Buy, you will have to repay some or all of the discount. The repayment reduces by 20% each year — so after 5 years, no repayment is due. If you sell within 10 years, you must first offer the property back to your landlord at market value. We will explain these restrictions in full before you commit.
Right to Buy — What You Need to Know
Who is eligible for Right to Buy?
To be eligible for the Right to Buy scheme, you must be a secure tenant of a council (local authority) or certain housing association properties in England. You must have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years (this does not have to be continuous or with the same landlord). The property must be your only or main home, and it must be self-contained. You cannot use Right to Buy if you are subject to a bankruptcy order, a possession order, or a suspended possession order.
Right to Buy for housing association tenants
The Right to Buy scheme applies to most council tenants in England. Housing association tenants may be eligible under the Preserved Right to Buy (if they were council tenants when their home was transferred to a housing association) or the Right to Acquire scheme (which offers a smaller discount). The rules are complex — we will advise you on your eligibility at the outset.
Getting a mortgage for Right to Buy
Most major lenders offer mortgages for Right to Buy purchases. Your discount can often be used as your deposit — meaning you may be able to buy with little or no cash upfront. If you need a mortgage, you should speak to a mortgage broker or lender before submitting your Right to Buy application. We will liaise with your mortgage lender throughout the conveyancing process.
Right to Buy legal fees
As a Right to Buy solicitor, we charge a fixed fee for Right to Buy conveyancing — confirmed in writing before any work begins. In addition to our legal fee, you will need to budget for search fees (typically £300–£500), Land Registry fees, and any mortgage arrangement fees. There is no Stamp Duty Land Tax to pay on most Right to Buy purchases, as the discounted purchase price is usually below the SDLT threshold — but we will confirm this for your specific transaction.
Common Questions
Right to Buy FAQs
Do I need a solicitor for Right to Buy?
How long does Right to Buy conveyancing take?
What discount am I entitled to under Right to Buy?
What is a Section 125 Notice?
What happens if I sell the property after buying under Right to Buy?
Can I get a mortgage for a Right to Buy purchase?
Related Services
You may also be interested in
Your Conveyancing Solicitors
Meet Sean & Vikki
Our residential conveyancing team brings almost 50 years of combined experience. Speak directly to the solicitor handling your Right to Buy purchase.
Your Conveyancing Solicitor
Sean Watts
Senior Residential Conveyancing Solicitor
Sean is a Senior Residential Conveyancing Solicitor with almost 30 years' experience. Known for his methodical approach and exceptional attention to detail, he keeps clients well-informed at every stage and handles even the most complex residential property matters with confidence.
Your Conveyancer
Vikki Rae-Williams
Senior Conveyancing Executive
Vikki is a Senior Conveyancing Executive with 20 years' experience in residential conveyancing, with a particular specialist interest in new build properties. She handles Help to Buy, shared ownership and all aspects of residential conveyancing with deep practical knowledge.
Get a Free Quote
Request a Right to Buy Quote
Complete the form below and our conveyancing team will provide a detailed, no-obligation quote for your Right to Buy purchase.
Prefer to speak with us? Call 01244 757352
Ready to buy your council house?
Speak to a Right to Buy solicitor today. We will explain the process, confirm your costs, and handle everything from instruction to completion.
No obligation · VAT-inclusive pricing · Costs confirmed in writing