All available properties are advertised through local authority publications and websites. People looking for council and housing association homes in the borough can then bid for homes through the website, by phone, by text message, or by filling in special coupons.

Applicants can see the full range of available properties and can apply for any home to which they are matched (e.g. a single person would not be eligible for a 3-bedroom house). Priority is given to those with urgent needs, but where possible properties are allocated on the basis of who has been waiting the longest. Authorities provide feedback that helps applicants to assess their chances of success in subsequent applications.

To bid, you must apply to the council for housing or a transfer, if you are a current tenant of the council or one of the partner housing associations in the borough.

To apply you can complete an online application form by clicking here (or you can call 0845 230 8099 for an application form.

Priority for New Build HomeBuy homes is given to council and housing association tenants. Through this scheme (previously known as shared ownership or part buy-part rent) you can buy a share in a brand new or refurbished home. You usually pay a mortgage on the part you own and a subsidised rent on the part you don’t own. As your income rises you can increase the share you own, until you eventually own 100% and no longer pay any rent to the housing association. If you are a key worker and leave your profession you will be required to either sell the property or purchase all of the remaining share of the property within 5 years.

To apply you can complete an online application form by clicking here or you can call 0845 230 8099 for an application form.

This low cost home ownership scheme is primarily for council and housing association tenants and key workers. You select a home of your own choice and are expected to raise 75% of the purchase price by getting a mortgage from one of the mortgage lenders participating in the scheme. The lender will give you an additional equity loan to cover 12.5% of the purchase price, which will be free for 5 years. Housing Options will give you a further 12.5% equity loan (excluding any deposit you have). You will not be required to make any monthly repayments on this. If you decide to sell the property you will be required to repay both equity loans. In addition if you are a key worker you will also be required to repay the government equity loan (and possibly the lenders also) if you leave your profession and cease to be a key worker.

To apply you can complete an online application form by clicking here or you can call 0845 230 8099 for an application form.

Under the Right to Buy scheme you can buy your home at a price lower than the full market value. This is because the length of time you have spent as a tenant entitles you to a discount. The Right to Buy is aimed at secure tenants of local authorities and those assured tenants of Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) who previously held secure tenancies with local authorities.

If you want to apply for Right to Buy you must start by asking your landlord for the Right to Buy claim form (Form RTB1). Your landlord must give you one for free if you ask. (Be wary of other people offering you forms, especially if they ask you to pay them for this.) The form is used to decide:

• whether you have the Right to Buy; and
• how much discount you will get.

When you have filled in the form, return it to your landlord. You should keep a copy of the completed form for yourself. Your landlord will send you a notice (Form RTB2) telling you whether or not you have the Right to Buy. If you do have the Right to Buy your landlord will then explain the steps of buying your home to you.

The Right to Acquire scheme is for eligible tenants of Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations). It does not apply to tenants of local authorities. Under the Right to Acquire scheme, tenants can buy the home they currently rent. The scheme is for eligible and secure tenants who live in a home either built or purchased by a registered social landlord, which was funded on or after 1 April 1997 through social housing grant provided by the Housing Corporation.

To qualify for Right to Acquire, tenants must also;

• have spent a total of two years as a housing association tenant
• have spent a total of five years as a housing association tenant if your first tenancy was created on or after January 18 2005
• live in a house or flat which is a self contained property and is your only or main home.

If you want to apply for Right to Acquire you must ask your landlord for the Right to Acquire claim form (Form RTA1). You will need to complete the form and return it to your landlord. You should keep a copy of the completed form for yourself. Your landlord will reply telling you whether or not you have the Right to Acquire. If you do have the Right to Acquire your landlord will then explain the steps of buying your home to you.

Social HomeBuy is where council or housing association tenants buy their council or housing association home on a part buy part rent basis receiving a discount on the initial purchase price.
Eligibility criteria are set on a local level by your landlord. It is not a statutory scheme and not all landlords will currently be offering this assistance.

To find out if your landlord is offering Social HomeBuy and what the eligibility criteria are, please call your Housing Officer who should be able to advise you.

Click here for contact details of Housing Associations offering Social HomeBuy in London.