Housing Minister Grant Shapps has set up a call centre and a dedicated website to enable people to get more information and advice.
The organisers of the scheme have found that while there is a great deal of interest across the country, research shows that many tenants are either still unaware of the scheme or unsure whether they are eligible to apply.
Right to Buy provides discounts of up to £75,000 for social tenants who want to buy their homes. An estimated 2.5 million tenants could benefit. The Government has pledged that homes sold under the scheme will be replaced by new properties for rent to ensure that there is no reduction in the number of affordable homes.
The scheme works on the basis that the longer a person has been a tenant, the bigger discount they get. They must have been public sector tenants for five years before they can qualify. This tenancy can be in their current home or in a previous one, with a different landlord.
Mr Shapps said: “For years, the Right to Buy for council tenants was undermined by punitive cuts to the discounts available, locking the door to home ownership for millions of hard-working people.
“Now, our revitalised Right to Buy scheme has trebled the discount in many areas, and has led to a surge in interest from aspiring homeowners across the country. But our research clearly shows that too many tenants are still in the dark about what this could mean for them.
Tenants can find out more by calling the helpline on 0300 123 0913 – or visiting the website at www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy.
Please contact us in our Warminster office on 01985 214444 or Westbury 01373 865577 or ihindle@mulaw.co.uk if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of buying and selling a home.
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