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Right to Acquire

What is the Right to Acquire?

The Right to Acquire initiative is very similar to the Right to Buy scheme. The main difference is that it where Right to Buy is aimed at Council tenants, Right to Acquire only applies to housing association properties and some housing built using Government grants. It was developed in 1996 but was updated in the Housing Act 2004. It gives eligible tenants the right to buy their property at a reduced cost.

KCA Properties eligible for Right to Acquire

Under the rules of Right to Acquire some of our tenants are allowed to buy their home at a discounted price. This doesn’t apply to many KCA tenants due to the ways in which most of the properties we own were paid for. However the rules do apply to anyone renting any of our properties in Fieldhead.

If you are a KCA tenant in Fieldhead you may be able to buy your rented home under the Right to Acquire. Depending on which part of the country you live in, you may be eligible for a discount on the price of your property.

The discount is a fixed amount set by the Government and is dependent on which part of the UK you live in. Currently in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield) the discount is set at £9,000. Your discount might be reduced if you’ve used Right to Acquire or Right to buy in the past.

Some general guidance on qualifying for the Right to Acquire.

You must have been a housing association, council, armed forces or other public housing tenant for a total of at least three years

Only some properties can be bought under the Right to Acquire. Your home must have been:

• built, bought or transferred to us from a local council after 1 April 1997
• paid for through a social housing grant – we can tell you if it was

Exclusions

It is important to note that we won’t consider your application if you are in rent arrears.

Some types of property don't qualify for the Right to Acquire. You will not qualify if:

• your home isn't self-contained
• you live in an independent living scheme where services are provided
• your home has been designed or adapted for people with special needs

You can’t use the Right to Acquire if:

• you’re being made bankrupt
• a court has ordered you to leave your home

Can you afford to buy your home?

• you may need a mortgage
• you will need to pay for all your legal and mortgage costs
• you will be responsible for the cost of all repairs to the property
• you will be responsible for any service charges for maintaining any communal/shared areas
• you will be responsible for paying buildings insurance

Before applying to buy your home, we strongly recommend you look at property prices in your area and the mortgage amount you are likely to need.

Conditions to buying

There are some additional conditions to buying that should be considered, these are:

You are not allowed to sublet the property within the first five years of ownership.

If you choose to sell your home within the first five years of purchase; the discount you receive will be repayable. The discount is repayable if the property is sold or the share assigned.

The amount due to be repaid is calculated as a percentage of the resale value equivalent to the percentage of the discount, when compared to the purchase price and reduced by a fifth each year as follows:

• Sale within one year, repay an amount equal to the % that the discount bore to the purchase price.
• Sale within two years, repay 80% of the amount calculated as above.
• Sale within year three, repay 60% of the amount calculated as above.
• Sale within year four, repay 40% as calculated above.
• Sale within year five, repay 20% of the amount calculated above.
• No repayment required after year five.

How to apply

Download the Right to Acquire information below. Complete the application and declaration forms and return them to us

It is important to note that from the date we receive your application, and while we are dealing with it, we will not carry out day-to-day repairs or maintenance to your property. We will still carry out emergency repairs to protect the health and safety of you and your home.

The property’s valuation is fixed at the date we receive your application and takes account of the property’s condition, including any disrepair.

You can find more information about the steps involved in applying on the gov.uk website
Please contact us if you have any questions.

Right to Acquire - government guidance booklet                 Download

Right to Acquire - application form,                                      Download

Right to Acquire - discounts by location                               Download

Right to Acquire - insolvency declaration form                     Download