Buying your council home

You have the Right to Buy (RTB) if you have spent at least two years as a public sector tenant and:

• your secure tenancy was in existence before 18 January 2005, or
• you were a public sector tenant before 18 January 2005 (and you have been a public sector tenant continuously since that time)

For anyone else, you do not have the RTB until you have spent at least five years as a public sector tenant.

Discounts

If you were a secure tenant before 18 January 2005 you will need two years as a public sector tenant in order to qualify for the RTB. The discount available to you after two years is:

• 32% for houses, plus 1% more discount for each extra full year (up to 60% max)
• 44% for flats, plus 2% more discount for each extra full year (up to 70% max)

The five year rule only applies to new or non continuous tenancies created after 18 January 2005:

• 35% for houses, plus 1% more discount for each extra full year (up to 60% max)
• 50% for flats, plus 2% more discount for each extra full year (up to 70% max)

But whatever percentage discount you are eligible for it cannot be greater than the maximum discount for York. The maximum discount available in York is £24,000.

If you have previously bought another council property, any discount you got then will usually be deducted from the discount that you get when you buy again.