Right to Buy has helped over two million council tenants become homeowners since it launched in 1980. The discounts available in 2025 are substantial, up to 96,000 pounds on houses and 127,900 pounds on flats in England (these caps increase annually with inflation).\n\nWho Qualifies — You must be a secure tenant of a council in England (the scheme does not operate in Scotland or Wales, which have their own, more limited versions). You need at least three years of public sector tenancy, though this does not have to be continuous or with the same landlord. Housing association tenants may qualify under the Preserved Right to Buy or the Right to Acquire, which offers smaller discounts.\n\nHow Discounts Work — The discount depends on how long you have been a tenant and whether your home is a house or a flat. Houses get 35% after 3 years, rising by 1% for each extra year up to a maximum of 70%. Flats get 50% after 3 years, rising by 2% per year up to a maximum of 70%. However, the discount cannot exceed the regional cap.\n\nUsing the Discount as a Deposit — Many lenders treat the Right to Buy discount as your deposit. So if your home is valued at 200,000 pounds and you receive a 60,000 pound discount, the purchase price is 140,000. Some lenders will lend 100% of the 140,000 because your 60,000 discount effectively represents 30% equity on day one. Halifax, Nationwide, Leeds Building Society, and several smaller building societies all offer specialist Right to Buy mortgages.\n\nThe Repayment Clause — If you sell your home within five years of buying under Right to Buy, you must repay some or all of the discount. The repayment reduces by 20% for each complete year you own the property. After five full years, no repayment is required.\n\nThings to Consider — Former council properties can sometimes be harder to remortgage because some lenders restrict lending on certain construction types (such as ex-local-authority flats in high-rise blocks). Check the construction type and any service charges before committing. Also confirm that the property has a long lease if it is a flat, as some ex-council leases are shorter than you would expect.