The criticisms aimed at the Government regarding the lack of affordable housing are not going away and the Government is hearing them loud and clear. In recent years the Government has helped set up various initiatives in order to solve the crisis from homebuy schemes and shared ownership to promising to build more affordable homes over the next twenty years.

This has not stopped the critics though. Several figures in the property industry have claimed the houses the government is proposing to build are not enough and will do little to ease the problems. There have also been complaints that the Government is acting too slow.

Never-the-less it cannot be disputed that these initiatives are beneficial for some groups of people. And one such initiative is the Right to Buy scheme.

What is the Right to Buy Initiative?

The Right to Buy scheme was developed to help council tenants to buy their council house. The tenants receive a discount on the cost of the house. The discount they receive varies depending on how long they have lived in the council house.

What Discounts are Available?

The discounts available on the property depend on the number of years the tenant has lived in it. If the tenant has lived in the house for twenty years they will receive a 50% discount on the house. If a tenant buys the council property and then goes on to sell it they may have to pay back the discount to the council.

Who is Eligible for the Right to Buy Scheme?

To be eligible for the Right to Buy scheme you must be a council tenant and you must have lived in your property for two years or more (obviously the longer you have lived in the property the bigger the discount will be.)

However there are some instances in which you would not have the Right to Buy even if you have lived in your house for over two years. If your home is connected to your work i.e. if it is rented by your employers for you then you will not be able to enter into the scheme. If your home was provided to you because you are an older person or a disabled person you are also disqualified from the scheme. If you are being evicted or have declared yourself bankrupt you cannot apply for Right to Buy.

How do I Apply for the Right to Buy scheme?

If you do qualify for the scheme and you would like to apply you should contact your local council and inform them of your interest. Alternatively you can visit the Government site www.gov.uk and download a form. Once you have applied for the Right to Buy scheme your local council will send you a letter stating the discount you would receive and the cost they will sell it at.

The Right to Buy scheme has been praised for helping thousands of council tenants to get on the property ladder and put an end to renting. If you are interested in buying your house and you have lived in it for a number of years contact your local council and take the first step to home ownership.