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Exceptions to right to buy

Homes suitable for occupation by elderly people
Your landlord may refuse to let you buy on the grounds that your home is particularly suitable for occupation by elderly people (under paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 to the Housing Act 1985). If so, you can ask the Secretary of State to decide if your landlord is right.

You do not have the Right to Buy your council home if it:

• is particularly suitable for occupation by elderly persons, taking into account its location, size, design, heating systems and other features;
• was let to you or the previous tenant for occupation by a person aged 60 or over, whether they were the tenant or not; and;
• was first let (to you or someone else) before 1 January 1990.

Sheltered housing for those who are elderly, physically disabled, mentally disabled, or mentally ill
There are special rules that must be met in the above cases. "Sheltered housing" normally means that the property is one of a group of such dwellings, that a warden or warden service is provided, and that there is a common room nearby.

A full list of exceptions is listed in the booklet " Your Right to Buy Your Home (189KB - 18 April 2012 - PDF Help)" on pages 26-29.

Defective Dwellings

A small proportion of our dwellings have been identified as being defective.  All houses called 'Cornish Unit' properties are in this group.  As a result of being defective lenders will not usually make mortgage finance available unless costly works have been carried out to repair their condition.  If you receive a letter formally notifying you that your home has been identified as defective and the market value will reflect this.  You must carefully consider the structural condition of the property and the difficulties in reselling it before you make your decision to go ahead with the purchase.  

Page last updated on 24 May 2012