How to buy your home
The Right to Buy scheme is a Government scheme that lets you buy your council home. You need to be a secure tenant and have been a council tenant for five years if your tenancy started after the 18th January 2005 and two years if your tenancy started before that. But you don't need to have been a tenant with Salford City Council or even in your present home. Tenancies with other councils or housing associations may count towards the time.
Salix Homes has produced an easy to follow information booklet which can be downloaded, just click here.
The Government has produced an information booklet providing details of how you can purchase your home, just click here. If you are considering buying a flat, there is an additional government booklet which can be downloaded, just click here.
Contact details:
If you have any specific queries or would like a Salix Homes Application Pack, please contact the Supporting Neighbourhoods Team at:
Salix Homes, Diamond House , 2 Peel Cross Road, Salford M5 4DT
You can also contact Salix Direct on 0800 218 2000 or email: salixrtb-tci@salixhomes.org
Applying to buy
If you want to apply to buy your home, an application form can be downloaded. Please click here. Once completed, the form needs to be posted to:
Salix Homes, Diamond House, 2 Peel Cross Rd, Salford M5 4DT
Costs to think about when buying your property.
When considering buying your property through the Right to Buy scheme there are other costs you should consider. These include:
- The cost of having a structural survey carried out
- Solicitors fees which include drawing up contracts,
- An arrangement andvaluation fee you may have to pay to your mortgage lender
- Stamp duty
- The cost of registering your property with Land Registry (this should be done for you by your solicitor).
After purchase, costs to consider are:
- Mortgage repayments unless you pay cash
- Service charges if the property is a flat
- Your contribution to any major repairs carried out on your block of flats
- The cost of maintaining and repairing your property
- Buildings Insurance
- Contents Insurance
- Life assurance
- Mortgage payment protection insurance
- If you pay for water and council tax with your rent you will have to pay these separately and direct to the relevant council departments.
Financing your Right to Buy
There are many lenders and lots of different types of mortgages. (The council does not provide mortgages). You need to look at all the options to find the right mortgage for you. It's a good idea to get advice from an Independent Financial Advisor .The Financial Services Authority (FSA) can help you find a mortgage call them on 0845 606 1234 or click onto the FSA Link below.
It is important to remember that if you can't keep up the repayments on your mortgage you may lose your home.
Useful Websites and Contacts:
There are various independent agencies that may be able to provide you with additional information and advice in relation to the Right to Buy. Listed below are the details of these:
Department for Communities and Local Government
Right to Buy Branch,
Room 2/H10,
Elland House,
Bressenden Place,
London SW1E 5DQ.
Tel: 020 7944 342
www.communities.gov.uk/housing
Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE)
31 Worship Street,
London EC2A 2DX.
Tel. 020 7374 5380
www.lease-advice.org
Link to Financial Services Authority (FSA) - www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
Link to Citizens Advice - www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Link to Salford Money Line - www.moneylinegm.co.uk
What properties are excluded from the Right to Buy Scheme in Central Salford?
Certain types of properties cannot be bought under the Right to Buy scheme. These are:
- Sheltered housing for the elderly
- Disabled Persons Units
- Properties inside the boundaries of cemeteries, schools or other types of operation buildings
- Homes classed as suitable for occupation by the elderly may also be excluded
- Homes due to be demolished
- Repayment of discount under Right to Buy legislation
Once you have bought your home under the Right to Buy Scheme you can sell it at any time you like. However, if you do choose to sell you may have to repay a percentage of your discount. This amount will depend on when you applied for the Right to Buy.
First Right of First Refusal
If you purchase your property under the Right to Buy Scheme on or after 18th January 2005 and you wish to resell your property within 10 years of buying it you must give Salford City Council first option to buy it back. If this offer has not been accepted within 8 weeks you are then free to sell the property on the open market.
What if I have purchased a property under the Right to Buy scheme before?
If you have bought previously under the Right to Buy Scheme then the discount you received previously will be deducted from your discount when you buy again.
