Right to buy

Buying your home

Are you a council tenant? Do you want to buy your home? Your tenancy agreement gives you the legal right to buy from us if:

1. You pay your rent directly to Manchester CIty Council, or to an organisation that collects rent on behalf of the Council. That is: Northwards Housing in north Manchester; Harvest Housing in Grove Village, Ardwick; Adactus Housing in Miles Platting; or Guinness Northern Counties in West Gorton; and

2. You have been a tenant with us, or with another public sector landlord (like a council or housing association), or lived in armed forces accommodation, for five years; and

3. You do not you live in a home reserved for elderly or disabled people.

Discount price

You can buy your home at a discount price below its market value - the longer you have been a tenant, the bigger the discount. If you live in a house you will get between 35 per cent and 60 per cent off the market value. The discount if you live in a flat is between 50 per cent and 70 per cent.

The maximum discount is £75,000.

If you buy your home, you can sell it in the future. But if you do this within five years you will have to pay back some or all the discount.

Think before you buy

When you are looking at the difference between renting and buying, don't just check the weekly payments.

Remember your rent includes things like buildings insurance and a free repairs service. If you buy your home you would have to pay for these things yourself.

If you are thinking of buying, beware of sales people who may try to get you to sign deals on the doorstep. Get independent financial advice from a bank or building society. We can help you with free advice.