Buying your council home
The Right to Buy scheme gives long-term council tenants the right to buy the home they are renting at a discount.
You can find out if you are eligible for the Right to Buy at GOV.UK.
Please note on 21 November 2024, the discounts you can get on homes in England will reduce. The last date to submit your application is Wednesday 20 November. Any applications received after this date will be subject to the new discount rate.
You can find out what discount you could get at GOV.UK.
The purchase price of your home will be the price it would sell for on the open market, minus the discount you are entitled to.
You can share the Right to Buy with up to 3 family members who have been living with you at the property as their permanent home for at least 12 months before you apply. Family members can be your husband, wife, civil partner, partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.
You need to inform us on how you will pay for the property, such as with cash or a mortgage. Some lenders will consider the discount you receive as a deposit for a mortgage, but you will need to discuss this with them.
Leaseholders must pay a yearly service charge fee towards the cost of major works to blocks of flats. Details of any costs we're aware of such as service charges, repairs, maintenance and major works will be included in your offer notice.
How to apply
To apply for the Right to Buy, you will need to complete the Right to Buy application form at GOV.UK.
If you need help completing your application or want an appointment to see us, you can email righttobuy@enfield.gov.uk. You can also contact the Right to Buy Advisory helpline on 0300 123 0913.
We will let you know if your application has been accepted within four weeks. If you're accepted, we will send you an offer notice within 12 weeks. You've got 12 weeks to let us know if you want to go ahead with the purchase. If you accept, it will take a few months for the sale to complete.
Checks we make
All applications will be checked by our Counter Fraud Investigation Team. If you apply and give false or misleading information, or withhold information, you may be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006, with a maximum sentence of 10 years or an unlimited fine or both.
We check information against other records, such as Housing Benefits, other government departments, agencies and fraud detection providers. If information from a Right to Buy application identifies other fraud, such as Housing Benefit, we will act on this and you may have your benefit adjusted or stopped.
Your application may be denied if:
- you're not a secure (long-term) tenant
- one of the tenants on a joint tenancy has not given their consent
- we cannot check your identity or eligibility
- the property is not your main home
- the property has been specifically adapted for the disabled or elderly
- the property has shared facilities
- we have a court order against you for your current or a previous tenancy
- you're an 'un-discharged bankrupt' or are being declared bankrupt
- we plan to demolish your home and you've been served a Demolition Order
Selling or letting your property
Once you own your home you're allowed to rent it to someone else, but if you're a leaseholder you must let us know and give us another contact address for you. You then become a landlord and will need to make sure you have the correct tenancy agreements and insurance in place. You will also need to register with Home Ownership Services by emailing leaseholder@enfield.gov.uk. If your home is mortgaged, you will need to check with your lender if they will let you sublet your property.
Paying back your discount
If you sell your property within the first 5 years, you will have to repay all or some of the discount you originally received. This is based on the percentage of discount you received and the number of years you have owned the property.
You will have to pay back the full discount if you sell within the first year. After that, the amount you pay back reduces to:
- 80% of the discount in the second year
- 60% of the discount in the third year
- 40% of the discount in the fourth year
- 20% of the discount in the fifth year
The amount you pay back depends on the value of your home when you sell it.
Example - You bought your home worth £100,000 and got a 40% discount (£40,000). You then sold your home after 18 months for £120,000 (40% of £120,000 is £48,000). As you’re in the second year, you would repay 80% of £48,000 (£38,400).
Right of First Refusal - selling back to Enfield Council
If you're the owner of a leasehold or freehold property purchased from us under Right to Buy, you must offer the council the ‘right of first refusal’ to buy your property. You have to do this if you want to sell or transfer the property within 10 years of the original purchase.
This legislative requirement is included in the Housing Act 1985 and is also a condition in your lease/freehold transfer agreement.
You must first offer the council the right to buy your property before agreeing any sale on the open market. It's very important to follow this process. New owners will not be able to register their legal ownership at HM Land Registry without the council’s written consent that the restriction was complied with.
If you're thinking of selling your property and think you may be subject to the 'right of first refusal', and need further details and information, please email propertyacquisitions@enfield.gov.uk.
Right to Buy scams
You should be aware of scams from companies or individuals who offer to help you buy your home but end up owning the property themselves. The money they offer is not enough to buy another home, and you will not be eligible for another tenancy from us. If you are approached, contact us or get independent legal advice from a solicitor or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Housing data privacy statement
Data protection
The privacy of your personal information is important to us, and we have produced a privacy notice which explains what information we collect and how it is used.
We share information with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by submitting data to the continuous recording of lettings and sales in social housing in England. This is referred to as CORE, and the information is used for research and statistical purposes.
For information about MHCLG's privacy notice, visit GOV.UK - Personal information charter.