Right to Buy

If you are a Scottish secure tenant you may have the legal right to buy your housing association property at a discount. However, the precise details of your right to buy will be determined by the particular circumstances of your tenancy including when your tenancy started.

As a result of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, substantial changes were made to the right to buy (RTB). These changes came into force on 30 September 2002.

The most important changes are to the terms and conditions attached to the right to buy, including changes to the initial ‘qualifying period’ and the way in which entitlement to discount is calculated. There have also been changes to the types of houses which cannot be purchased through the right to buy and to the procedures involved.

Some of the changes apply to all tenants applying to buy their home, for example, the new requirement to show that you have no arrears of rent or council tax.

If you live in a house that has been specially designed and which has special facilities or where tenants receive housing support services, the right to buy such properties does not apply.

If you are a new tenant of the Association since September 2002 you will be unable to exercise your right to buy until 2012.

Finding Out More
The Scottish Executive has published a booklet called ‘Your Right to buy your Home’ which gives a step by step guide to the right to buy process. If you contact our office we will send you a copy of this guide.

Alternatively your housing officer will be happy to assist you in any aspect of buying your home.