Home Ownership
Right to Buy
If you were a secure or introductory tenant of Maidstone Borough Council at the time of the transfer of homes to The Trust, and have been a public sector tenant for at least two years you may have the right to buy your home. There are a few exceptions, for example if you live in sheltered accommodation or if you live in a home which has been specially designed or adapted for use by older people or persons with special needs. Certain members of your family may be able to buy with you, as long as the property is their only or principal home.
The amount you will have to pay for your home depends on how much it is worth on the open market. You will receive a discount based on the number of years you have been a tenant. This is called your 'qualifying period'. You can count time spent in different homes and with different public sector landlords and these don't have to be straight after each other. If you are buying jointly with someone who has a qualifying period which is longer than yours, you will get their higher rate of discount, but different peoples' concurrent qualifying years cannot be added together.
Once you have bought your home, you may sell it at anytime, however if you sell within five years of buying, then you will have to pay back some or even all of your discount. After five years you can sell your home without paying back any discount.
No modernisation or major improvement work to your home will be undertaken, while an application for the Right to Buy is pending.
If you were not a tenant of Maidstone Borough Council at the time of the transfer of homes to The Trust then you do not have the Right to Buy, however you may have the Right to Acquire.
Right to Acquire
The Right to Acquire is a scheme giving eligible tenants of The Trust the right to purchase the home they currently rent. The scheme is similar to Right to Buy - you must be an assured tenant of The Trust, with at least 2 years, and in some cases 5 years, previous tenancy with a public sector landlord.
The Right to Acquire does not apply to all properties owned by The Trust. Certain properties in rural areas (villages), or homes specially adapted for elderly or disabled people are exempt from Right to Acquire. As with Right to Buy, you may buy your home with someone who is a joint tenant with you, or members of your family if they are eligible and if the property is their only or principal home.
How much you pay to buy your home under the Right to Acquire scheme differs from Right to Buy. You will be entitled to a maximum discount of currently £11,000.
Further Information:
You can download the 'Your Right to Buy your home', our 'Right to Buy information sheet' and 'A Guide to Right to Acquire' leaflets. These are PDF files and will open in a new window.
We have Service Standards for Right to Buy / Right to Acquire, which we aim to meet.
You can call us on 01622 212630 or email us at homeownership@maidstonehousing.org.uk.
date published: 12/03/2007