Right To Buy - An Introduction

The Right to Buy scheme for tenants of Wigan Council is administered by Wigan and Leigh Housing on the Council's behalf.

Buying your home is probably the most important financial commitment you will make.  In some cases people find themselves in financial difficulty because they did not realise what a large financial commitment buying their home would be.

If you are thinking about buying your home it is important that you are aware of the commitment you will be taking on and that you understand the process.  When you know all the facts then take time to consider if the Right to Buy is the right choice for you.  Please read the information further down this page on getting advice on exercising your Right to Buy.  For further information on the Right to Buy process itself, click on one of the links below :

• Costs after you have bought your home
• Discounts
• How do I qualify
• The Right to Buy process - Step by Step

How To Apply

You need to complete a Right to Buy application form, called the RTB1 form.  You can obtain one by :

• Telephone 01942 701971
• E-mail : enquiries@walh.co.uk
• Write to : Wigan & Leigh Housing, Income & Home Sales, 3 Orrell Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 8EW
• Visiting your local area housing office (click here for locations) or a Property Shop (click here for locations).

Alternatively, you can download one by :

• Clicking here (.pdf,128KB) for an application form.
• and here (.pdf,615KB) for a "Your Right to Buy your home" booklet.

Send completed application forms to :

• Wigan & Leigh Housing, Income & Home Sales, 3 Orrell Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 8EW, or

Hand it in your local area housing office. Click on the link below too see where they are located:

• location of area housing offices

Warning – Getting Advice On The Right To Buy

If you are considering buying your Council home and need further information or advice on any aspect of the Right to Buy scheme, we recommend that you contact us first (tel. 01942 701971).

The Government and local councils are concerned that tenants do not always receive good advice when they ask private companies or individuals for help in buying their Council home. Sometimes tenants are asked to pay for advice and application forms that are free from their local council. Please be wary if you are approached by private companies wanting to help you buy your home – they may be trying to persuade you to do something that benefits them rather than you. See the article below for further details.

Right To Buy – Are You Paying Too Much For Advice?

Are you currently buying your council home, or considering buying your home in the future? Could you be paying more than you need to?

You could make some significant savings by getting help and advice about your 'Right to Buy' application from Wigan & Leigh Housing, and shopping around the local High Street banks, building societies and solicitors.

In the last two years there has been a surge of applications from tenants applying to buy their council homes under the 'Right to Buy' scheme. This renewed activity in the housing market has seen an influx of dedicated 'right to buy' agencies offering to give advice and arrange mortgages and solicitors for would-be 'right to buy' purchasers. These agencies charge for the advice and other services they offer and many of those services can be obtained cheaper or even free of charge elsewhere.

We have put together some information about the charges that you might be expected to pay. Compare the typical average charges below before you decide where to get advice and assistance.

* Source: Bank of England data, average mortgage interest rate December 07.

Updated January 2010