Right to Buy

Your Right to Buy Your Home

As a Basildon Council tenant can I apply to buy my home? Yes, if you are a Basildon Borough Council secure tenant. Basildon Council will process your application for you. There are costs involved in purchasing your home that we are unable to help you with such as:

• mortgage repayments
• leaseholder charges
• building insurance
• repairs and maintenance.

You may also be charged fees for the necessary services of solicitors, valuers and surveyors.

Before you consider purchasing we recommend you find out the price of similar properties in your area.

You can find out prices from the UK House Price Index however, you may have to pay a small fee for this information, see...

• GOV.UK - UK House Price Index (opens new window)

Who has the right to buy?

If you are a secure tenant you can usually buy your home through the right to buy scheme subject to certain conditions.

You do not have the right to buy until you have been a public-sector tenant (not a private tenant) for at least three years.

Previous public sector tenancies may also be taken into account, along with certain other criteria you will have to meet.

To find out more contact our Home Ownership Team who will be happy to discuss with your eligibility with you.

Discounts.

If you are eligible, you will qualify for a discount.  The discount will be based upon the current market value of your home. The discount starts at

• 35% for between 3 and 5 years tenancy for houses rising by 1% for each year you have been a tenant to a maximum of 70%
• 50% for between 3 and 5 years tenancy for a flat rising by 2% for each year you have been a tenant to a maximum of 70%

Your discount cannot be greater than the maximum discount for Basildon Borough which is is £38,000.

If major repairs or improvements have been made to your home in the recent past the purchase price may be affected. The discount may also be affected if you have previously purchased with a discount.

MOST IMPORTANT, OUR SERVICE IS FREE

Please remember that Basildon Council will process your Right To Buy application free of charge, so beware of firms or individuals asking for a fee.

How to submit your Right To Buy application

The Right To Buy application process requires that you complete and sign 2 separate forms either digitally or by post:

Form 1:

• The RTB1 Application Form e, see following link...
  • Online:Your Right to Buy - Completing Your Application Form (Official Government Right to Buy website) (opens new window).
  • By Post or email: RTB1 downloadable form (PDF, 205 KB)

Form 2:

• The RTB Additional Information Form 
  • By email to housesales@basildon.gov.uk: Right to Buy - Additional Information Form (PDF, 59 KB)(opens new window)
  • By post: Right to Buy - Additional Information Form (PDF, 59 KB)(opens new window)

For guidance on completing the above forms see also: Useful Tips on completing a Right To Buy application (PDF, 130 KB)(opens new window).

PLEASE NOTE: Please ensure that both the RTB1 and RTB Additional Information Form are fully completed, failure to do this may result in your application being returned or delayed.

Further information and enquiries

• Buildings Insurance For Right To Buy Leaseholders
• GOV.UK - Right to Buy: buying your council home (opens new window)

For further information and enquiries please contact the Home Ownership Team, see contact details below...