Buying your home
Buying your home is probably the biggest financial decision you will ever make, so you need to take time to consider whether it is the right choice for you and the costs involved in becoming a homeowner.
Can I buy my home?
There are two ways you can purchase your home.
Preserved right to buy
You can apply for the preserved right to buy if you were a tenant of South Gloucestershire Council with a secure tenancy on 12 February 2007, have signed a new tenancy agreement and meet the other qualifying conditions.
As long as you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement, you will keep your enhanced rights even if you move to another of our homes, provided that it is not excluded from the right to buy scheme. You can lose the enhanced rights in your tenancy agreement if you break the agreement.
Right to acquire
If you became a Merlin tenant after 12 February 2007, you may have the right to acquire if you meet the qualifying conditions. This right is also available to transferring council tenants, but can’t be use in combination with the preserved right to buy.
You will not be able to buy your home if:
- You live in sheltered accommodation
- Your home is specially adapted for disabled residents
- You are an undischarged bankrupt
How long do I need to be a tenant for before I can buy my home?
If you were living in a local authority or housing association property on 18 January 2005 and have continued to do so since that date, you can apply to buy using your preserved right to buy or the right to acquire. If you became a local authority or housing association resident after 18 January 2005, or haven’t been a resident continuously since then, you will need to have been living in a local authority or housing association property for at least five years before you can apply to buy.
How much discount will I receive?
This depends on how you are buying your home. Contact our Customer Services Team for more details.
Where can I find out more?
For more information about what you need to consider before buying your home and details of the right to buy process, you should read the free Government booklet Your Right to Buy Your Home
Read more: