Does the Right to Buy follow you?

Kaseryn

If you do a flat swap? Is the right to buy you've accrued attached to yourself or would you lose it in the event of an exchange? I've been here over 20 years and qualify for the full discount but have a psycho neighbour that now has me looking for a move.

[Deleted User]

Kaseryn wrote: »

If you do a flat swap? Is the right to buy you've accrued attached to yourself or would you lose it in the event of an exchange? I've been here over 20 years and qualify for the full discount but have a psycho neighbour that now has me looking for a move.

Yes but the property you move to might not be eligible

Lioness_Twinkletoes

The level of RTB discount is calculated on your time as a tenant. However, if you move to a property that doesn't have the RTB (for example, a Housing Association property) then you'll only be eligible for the Right to Acquire. In most places, this discount is capped at £16k.

Kaseryn

is it transferable between boroughs/councils or do they have different policies for rtb? i.e. if i wanted to exchange with a council property in another borough (aren't all councils part of the rtb scheme?) would my time as a tenant count towards the discount in the new place?

James_Green_1982

Kaseryn wrote: »

is it transferable between boroughs/councils or do they have different policies for rtb? i.e. if i wanted to exchange with a council property in another borough (aren't all councils part of the rtb scheme?) would my time as a tenant count towards the discount in the new place?

Your years as a tenant accumulate to give you a discount. That discount stays with you for life. (Even if there are times between when you were not a social tenant). Most time as a 'social' tenant (including MoD housing etc) counts for you personally.

But you can only use your discount for a house where that council operates RTB.

For example:

You could live in an MoD MQ for 20 years. You could never buy that MQ. But if you moved to a council house you would have 20 years discount.

If you lived in a council house for 20 years, then moved to a MoD MQ - you could not use that discount to buy the MQ - but your years in the MQ would keep adding to your discount. So if you moved back to a council house after 10 years in a MQ - you would then have 30 years discount to buy the council house.

This is an unlikely scenario obviously - just using it to explain the principle.

Cakeguts

Kaseryn wrote: »

is it transferable between boroughs/councils or do they have different policies for rtb? i.e. if i wanted to exchange with a council property in another borough (aren't all councils part of the rtb scheme?) would my time as a tenant count towards the discount in the new place?

Some councils have transferred all of their social housing to housing associations. So now the properties are owned by those housing associations.

Rosieandjim

You also need to be aware that if you have a secure tenancy and you move to another property with a different type of tenancy you would have to take that on and relinquish your secure one. Make sure you get everything in writing from where ever you are planning to move that way it does not become a she said he said.

James_Green_1982

Kaseryn wrote: »

If you do a flat swap? Is the right to buy you've accrued attached to yourself or would you lose it in the event of an exchange? I've been here over 20 years and qualify for the full discount but have a psycho neighbour that now has me looking for a move.

We don't know your personal circumstances, but just a reminder that a secure tenancy is not something to be given up lightly these days.

In many ways a council tenancy is more secure than owning your own home.
If you get sick, get sued, get into debt, need to rely on benefits etc, etc, then a home you own is more at risk than one you rent from the council.

Also policies change. Over time the RTB has been increased (1980s), reduced (1990s-2000s), increased again etc.

Every situation is different and everyone's risk profile is different. So you'll need to weigh it up for yourself.

Kaseryn

Thanks for the responses and I take the points about secure tenancy and housing associations. Our estate was transferred to a HA a while back but the council took it back over. As far as tenancies go I was very much of the mind that i'd be looking to swop like for like although that might be subject to antisocial conditions where I am at the moment. I guess i'd need in the event of an exchange to look specifically at the other borough invlved and check their policies..

HampshireH

For an exchange advertised for only swaps with secure tenancies. Not sure if there is a filter option on Homeswapper you can use.

Kaseryn

Thanks for the tip i didn't know the Homeswappoer site