Preserved Right To Buy

What “Preserved Right to Buy” means

This applies if:

  • You originally rented your home from a local authority (council)
  • Your home was later transferred to Southern Housing

If that’s the case, your Right to Buy didn’t disappear. It was preserved under the transfer agreement.

Discount you could get

If you’re eligible, you can buy your home at a discounted price.

  • Up to £38,000 in across all UK boroughs 

The exact discount depends on:

  • How long you’ve been a public sector tenant
  • The borough your home is in
  • Whether your home is a flat or a house
  • The market value of the property

Key eligibility criteria

You’ll usually need to meet all of these:

  • Have a protected assured tenancy
  • Have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years
  • Your home is not scheduled for demolition
  • You are not bankrupt and don’t have a bankruptcy petition pending
  • You don’t have any outstanding possession orders

Important condition

If you buy your home and sell it within 5 years, you’ll have to repay some or all of the discount.

What to do next