Right to Buy or Acquire

Right to Buy

The preserved Right to Buy is open to 'protected assured' tenants, i.e. secure tenants whose original tenancy was with Chelmsford Borough Council and who have continued with CHP since 2002. See the Your Tenancy section for more detail.

Right to Acquire

Right to Acquire is a similar scheme open to secure tenants on a 'new assured' tenancy who have been a tenant for two or more years. However, changes in the law mean that if your tenancy started after 18 January 2005 you will have to wait for five years to apply.

Although you may qualify to buy, your home may not be available to buy if it is classed as suitable for the elderly or if it may be rebuilt. There are also restrictions in some rural areas.

What will it cost to buy the home?

If your claim is accepted an independent surveyor will visit you and value the property. We work out the sale price by taking a discount off the valuation figure.

If you are a protected assured tenant with the preserved Right to Buy your discount is based on your length of tenancy, up to a maximum discount of £34,000.

For a new assured tenant with the Right to Acquire, the discount is £13,500.

Time limits

We will normally tell you the sale price within three months of receiving your application, although it may take longer for a flat. Once you have been told the sale price you have three months to complete the purchase.

Further information

For more information on your Right to Acquire and your right to buy your home visit the Communities and Local Government web site or download the right to acquire booklet.