Interested in buying your council home?

The Government have recently increased the discount capping limit from £26,000 to £75,000.

This means that if your property is valued at £125,000, and you have been a tenant for the maximum 30 years and are entitled to 60% discount, you would receive the maximum of £75,000.

However, most of Sandwell MBC's properties are currently valued less than this, and therefore the discount you would receive is likely to be less than £75,000.

The Home Ownership Unit

The Home Ownership Unit provides guidance to anyone interested in buying their council property and also co-ordinates the process of valuation and purchase. For further information please contact:

Homes and Communities Directorate

Home Ownership Unit
Dartmouth House
Sandwell Road
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 8TQ

Telephone: 0121 569 5029

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am - 5:30pm, Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

Services

If you are unable to visit the Home Ownership Unit we can provide a home visit.

What is 'Right to Buy'?

A process which means you can buy your council house for a discounted price, based on the number of years you have spent as a public sector tenant.

How can I apply?

An application form can be obtained from all Housing Service Centres and directly from:

Department for Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU

Telephone: 020 7944 4400
Fax: 020 7944 4104
Email: contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Alternatively, a form can be downloaded from the Directgov website by clicking here.  A Right to Buy Your Home booklet and summary is also available here.

Do I qualify?

You need to have been a public sector tenant for a period of at least five years to be eligible for the Right to Buy.

How is the discount calculated?

If you live in a house, the discount will be between 35% and 60%. If you have five whole years' tenancy, a discount of 35% is applicable, rising by 1% for every additional whole year to a maximum of thirty years, for which 60% is applicable.

If you live in a flat, the discount will be between 50% and 70%. If you have five whole years' tenancy, a discount of 50% is applicable, rising by 2% for every whole year to a maximum of fifteen years, for which 70% is applicable.

However, there is an upper limit to the discount allowed, which is £75,000.

The Cost Floor

The cost floor has now changed from 10 years to 15 years.

If we have paid to build, aquire, repair or renovate your home, we cannot sell it to you for less money than we have spent on it over the past fifteen years.  In these circumstances, the discount will be limited.

Further help

For further information or guidance, please click here for a guide to moving and buying your home.

HomeBuy

Orbit is the appointed HomeBuy Agent as part of the Government's National Affordable Housing Programme.  Their address is:

Orbit First Step

Garden Court

Harry Weston Road

Binley Business Park

Binley

Coventry

CV3 2SU

Their role as HomeBuy Agent is to offer a one-stop shop for home buyers wishing to access the property ladder, assessing eligibility and delivering the headline marketing of all low cost home ownership schemes. Orbit, as HomeBuy Agent, plays a crucial role in delivering the Government's strategy for low cost home ownership.

For more information, click here to visit the Orbit website.