Council Right to Buy UK

COUNCIL RIGHT TO BUY: Your Right to Buy your home

Right to Buy: Other exceptions to the Right to Buy

a) Sheltered housing for the elderly, the physically disabled, the mentally ill or the mentally disabled. Special rules must be met in these cases. ‘Sheltered housing’ normally means that the property is one of a group of such dwellings, that a warden service is provided, and that there is a common room nearby. Housing for the disabled means a property that is one of a group and has features that are substantially different from those of ordinary dwellings and with special facilities that are provided nearby.

b) Houses and flats on land which has been bought for development, and which are being used as temporary housing before the land is developed.

c) The tenancies of employees who have to live in homes owned by their employers so that they can be near their work.

d) The tenancies of employees whose home is inside the boundaries of a school, a social service home, another type of operational building or a cemetery.

e) The tenancies of members of a police force whose homes have been provided free from rent and rates.

f) The tenancies of fire authority employees who have to live near to the station they work in and whose homes have been provided by the employer.

g) Temporary lettings (of up to 3 years) of homes usually let to the employees mentioned above*.

h) Some homes which are let as part of business or agricultural premises (for example public houses, farms, shops).

i) Homes which the landlord has leased from someone else and which have to be given up empty when the owner wants them.

j) Almshouses.

k) Homes which are let by a charitable registered social landlord, a charitable housing trust or association, by certain co-operative housing associations, or by a housing association or other registered social landlord which has not received grants from public funds.

l) Tenancies given to students so they can follow certain full-time courses at a university or college. This rule does not apply if the tenancy continues for more than 6 months after the tenant stops attending the course*.

m) The tenancies of people moving into the area from another district to take up a job and given a home temporarily while they look for a permanent home. This rule does not apply if tenants are still living there after one year*.

* For exclusions (g), (l) and (m) to count, the tenant must be notified before the start of the tenancy.

n) Tenancies for homeless people secured under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996.

o) The tenancies of people who used to be squatters but have now been given a licence to occupy a home.

p) Long fixed-term leases (of over 21 years).

q) Temporary lettings to people who were not secure tenants in their previous homes which are being improved or repaired.

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© Crown Copyright (Correct at time of writing January 2005. Please check with your financial services provider for any changes.)

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