Buying the home you rent

Tenants can in certain circumstances be eligible to buy the home they rent from West Kent. There are very specific rules about who can apply to buy their home and the four situations that might apply are described here.

  • Right to buy

    If you are a former tenant of Sevenoaks District Council, who transferred to the newly formed West Kent Housing Association on 23 March 1989, you have an assured/protected tenancy and so may have the 'Right to Buy' your home.

    If you're an assured/protected tenant, you have the right to buy the freehold of a house, or the leasehold if you live in a flat, provided:

    • the home transferred from Sevenoaks District Council on the 23 March 1989
    • West Kent owns the freehold
    • it is your only or principal home.

    The Right to Buy is not means tested so your financial circumstances are not taken into account. Tenants receiving income support or housing benefit may also apply to buy.

    If you're interested in buying the home you rent from us contact us.

  • Right to acquire

    The Housing Act 1996 introduced the Right to Acquire, which allows some housing association tenants to buy their homes at a discount while ensuring those properties lost to West Kent through sale are replaced.

    If you live in a home we acquired or built using social housing grant after 1 April 1997 and you're an assured or secure tenant with a minimum tenancy period, you may have the Right to Acquire.

    If you're an assured or secure tenant, you have the right to acquire the freehold of a house, or the leasehold if you live in a flat, provided:

    • the home was acquired or built using social housing grant funding from the 1 April 1997
    • West Kent owns the freehold
    • it is your only or principal home.

    For more information please contact us.

  • Voluntary Right to Buy scheme

    In 2015, the Government made a commitment in its manifesto to extend 'Right to Buy' to housing association tenants. This will be known as the Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme (VRTB).

    This scheme offers the same level of discounts as the existing Right to Buy scheme and is still in its trial period. The details of how the scheme will work are not yet finalised and there are no plans to roll the scheme forward for all housing association tenants yet.

    We have no plans to offer this scheme as yet but we'll keep this page updated as things develop.

     

  • Right to Shared Ownership (RTSO)

    Applicable to tenants in England living in social housing homes built with funding from the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026.

    To qualify, tenants must

    o    Be over 18 years old.
    o    Live in a property where RTSO applies.
    o    Have an eligible tenancy type (e.g., secure, assured, or fixed-term).
    o    Meet residency requirements (e.g., at least 12 months in the current home and 3 years as a tenant in     total).
    o    Be free from rent arrears, legal proceedings, or bankruptcy issues.
    o    Have a household income below £80,000 (£90,000 in London) and not own another property.

    How it works

    Tenants can purchase an equity stake of 10%-75% of their home’s current market value and can gradually increase ownership through "staircasing," potentially up to 100%.

    The home is sold with new 990-year shared ownership lease and the share purchased is based on what the tenant can afford following a financial assessment carried out by an independent mortgage advisor.

    To find out more about the process and if your home is eligible, please email sales@wkha.org.uk or call 01732 749 900 Option 4