Buying your council home

Right to buy discount

The Right to Buy scheme helps eligible council and housing association tenants in England buy their homes. It offers a discount of up to £136,400 (£102,400 outside London). 

After the government’s review of Right to Buy discounts, maximum cash discounts will be reduced to £16,000 from 21 November 2024.

The level of the maximum discount available will depend on where you live. From 21 November 2024 the maximum discount for Hackney is £16,000.

If you’re eligible for the Right to Buy and we receive your application before 21 November 2024, you will still be eligible for the current discounts. 

Apply to buy your home

Our right to buy booklet provides information on the full process. When you’re ready to apply, please complete an application form along with the additional information form:

• right to buy application form (PDF 439kb)
• additional right to buy information form (PDF 218kb)
• joint tenant opting out declaration form (PDF 93kb)
• right to buy cover letter and application checklist (google doc)
• evidence required from family member (PDF 125kb)

Right to buy, anti-money laundering declaration

If you want to go ahead with the purchase of your home, we require further information to verify the sale is being made to those entitled to the right to buy discount, and to ensure that the Council is not part of a financial transaction that could amount to handling the proceeds of crime (money laundering). 

Declaration form

Please provide the information set out in this form. Failure to provide the information could result in the delay or cancellation of your right to buy application. The form should be signed by all relevant parties.

See the anti-money laundering declaration form

As the right to buy applicant(s), you are under a continuing duty to update the Council with any and all changes relating to the finance of the purchase, such as a change in mortgage provider. 

Please note, that if you knowingly make false statements or misrepresentations in the purchase of your home you may be prosecuted.

Contact us about the right to buy

Please complete this form if you would like to make an enquiry about the right to buy.

Right to buy enquiry form

Right to buy agents’ service

The government’s right to buy agent service offers free and impartial advice for council tenants who are interested in understanding and taking up the right to buy their home. They can help you with:

• finding out if you are eligible
• working out your discount
• providing advice about obtaining a mortgage
• guidance about the costs involved
• completing your application form
• finding a solicitor

Contact the right to buy agents’ service on 0300 123 0913

Protecting your home

There are private companies and individuals who offer to help tenants buy their homes. Please be aware that you may not get good advice from them and could end up becoming homeless.

Sometimes, you are asked to pay for assistance that you can get for free. For example:

• we will provide an application form and help you fill it in
• we will explain how the sales process works and answer your questions
• banks and building societies offer free mortgage advice
• we are here to help you and our advice costs nothing

Companies and individuals offering money

Sometimes companies or individuals offer tenants money to buy their homes under the right to buy scheme. If you enter into this type of agreement:

• once you buy your property, you will have to repay any discount received if you transfer or sell within five years
• the money you make is unlikely to be enough to buy another home, and you will not be given another property to rent

Please think very carefully before using one of these companies or individuals. Ask yourself ‘what’s in it for them?’ Do not sign anything that you are not entirely clear about or happy with.

Some tenants have become homeless after agreeing to deals like this. It is very important that you get independent legal advice from your own solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau, before you enter into such an agreement.