Right to buy

Important Information

The government has announced changes to the maximum discount allowed which will come into force for all new applications received on or after 21 November 2024. Please see the government's Right to Buy website for further details.

Due to an unprecedented number of applications being received, it is taking longer to process Right to Buy applications submitted after 20th November 2024.

By law, most council tenants have the right to buy their council house or flat. To qualify for the right to buy you need to:

The information that you provide on the Right to Buy form will be used to process your request to purchase your home. If you would like further information on how we use your data, please read our Privacy Notice.

When you buy a flat from West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) you buy a leasehold interest in your home. The council continues to own the freehold. For further details please contact the Leasehold and Service Charge Project Manager on 01695 585236.

Discounts

To find out how much discount you would be entitled to visit (external link)

PLEASE NOTE - Following the Government’s review of Right to Buy discounts, maximum cash discounts for the Northwest region reduced to £26,000 as from 21st November 2024. All applications received on or after 21st November will be subject to the new discount structure.

Restrictions 

There are certain homes which the Council will not sell. These are:

  • Sheltered accommodation
  • Homes suitable for the elderly or especially adapted for the disabled
  • Temporary accommodation and dwellings, which have been leased from other landlords by the Council

Some tenants are not permitted to buy their home. These are:

  • Homeless people who have been given temporary accommodation
  • Employees of the council who have accommodation as part of their job e.g. caretakers, wardens
  • Tenants who have a possession order on their property 
  • Tenants who have an introductory tenancy

The cost floor rule 

New properties built by local authorities from 1 April 2012 fall under the cost floor rule which means that they cannot be sold during the first 15 years for less than the cost to build. 

Maintenance and Repairs

Please note - As soon as you apply to buy your home you will not be entitled to routine repairs or improvements (except for work required by law and to keep it weather-tight). Your home will be excluded from any planned modernisation works such as new windows etc.

Repairs

If significant repairs take place on the property whilst your application is being processed, WLBC reserve the right to revalue the property upon completion of the repairs

Maintenance

If you buy your home, you are responsible for all its maintenance. If you buy a flat, we will continue to carry out certain maintenance tasks and will charge you an annual service charge. Your rights and obligations - and those of the Council - should be fully explained to you by your solicitor at the time of purchase.  

Service charges for flats and maisonettes are payable annually, it is important that you consider these on-going costs before committing to the purchase. 

Repaying Your Discount

If you apply for the Right to Buy (from 18 January 2005) and then sell your home within one year of buying it, you will have to repay the entire percentage discount you received.

If you sell your home in the second year you will have to repay four fifths; if you sell in the third year you pay back three fifths.

If you sell in the fourth year you will pay back two fifths and if you sell in the fifth year you pay back one fifth. After five years you won't have to pay back any of the discount.

The amount of discount to be repaid will be a percentage of the re–sale value.

Insurance

The council operates a Home Contents Insurance scheme that all tenants and leaseholders are eligible to join. If you currently have a policy with this scheme, you do not need to take any action as your policy will continue for as long as you make your payments.  

If you would like to take advantage of the  scheme please follow this link Tenants Home Contents Insurance Scheme to find out more information and to apply online or request a paper copy application form. 

 

I want to sell my property - will the Council buy it back?

If you purchased your home through the 'Right to Buy' scheme within the last 10 years ago, you must first offer it to either West Lancashire Borough Council or another social landlord in the area before selling it on the open market. Please note we can only consider purchasing properties within West Lancashire.

We will consider if we would like to re-purchase the property from you at the current market value - this can save you estate agent fees and other costs. The process is often swifter because we have our own surveying and legal teams, are not part of a chain and don’t require a mortgage. We will aim to let you have a decision within 4 weeks of your initial enquiry - often much sooner.

Even if you do not sell to us, you must obtain written consent from the Council to sell your property within the first ten years of exercising the right to buy.

Before contacting us, please can you complete this form which will go to estates.valuation@westlancs.gov.uk that captures all the relevant information to proceed. 

If you are wanting to enquire about selling your ex-council house back to us you need to be aware that if you purchased it less than 5 years ago you will need to repay a portion of the discount, whether you sell to us or someone else.

You'll have to pay back all of the discount if you sell within the first year. After that, the total 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.

Further information can be found at:- Right to Buy: buying your council home: Selling your home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)