Notice claiming the Right to Buy

(RTB1 form)
Please use this form if you are a council or housing association tenant and wish to purchase
your home under the Right to Buy or Preserved Right to Buy schemes.

You could be eligible for a Right to Buy discount if:

✔ You are a council tenant OR you were a council tenant and were living in your
home when it was transferred to your current housing association landlord
✔ The property is your only or main home
✔ You have been a public sector tenant (usually a tenant of a council or a housing
association) for at least 3 years
✔ You don’t live in sheltered housing or other housing particularly suitable for
elderly or disabled people
✔ Your home is not due to be demolished
✔ You don’t have any legal problems with debt
✔ You don’t have any outstanding possession orders
If you can answer ‘yes’ to these statements, you are probably eligible but your landlord
will need to confirm this.

Remember, buying your home is a big decision. If you haven’t done so already, you should get
impartial financial and legal advice before buying.
You can get free information and advice from:
• Your landlord
• The Government’s Right to Buy website:
www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/scheme/right-to-buy/ and RTB Agent helpline: 0300
123 0913
• The Government’s booklets – Want to make your home your own? and
Your Right to Buy your Home
• For legal matters contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• For budgeting and financial advice, contact the Money Advice Service:
0300 500 5000; www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
When you have completed this form, take it or send it by recorded delivery to your
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landlord. If you take it by hand, ask for a receipt. You should keep a copy of the
completed form.

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Part A: The property

Note:
You can only claim the Right to Buy discount if you are a tenant of this property.

Give the following details:

Address of the property you wish to buy Name of your landlord

(including postcode)

Please turn the page

Part B: The tenant(s) and family member(s) wishing to share the
Right to Buy

Notes:
Tenant
1. You have the right to be a tenant if your name appears on the tenancy agreement, rent book or
rent card. If you are unsure whether you are a tenant, you should check with your landlord.
2. You can only claim the Right to Buy if the property is your ‘only or main home’. If you are applying to
buy jointly with other tenants, only one of you needs to live in the property as your ‘only or main
home’.
3. The agreement of any tenant who does not wish to buy must be obtained before you claim the
Right to Buy. They should sign Part F of this notice. Their tenancy will end when you buy the
property.
Family member
1. You may share the Right to Buy with up to three family members over the age of 18. They must be
a spouse, civil partner or wider family member, but do not have to be tenants themselves. Wider
family members must have also lived in the property as their main home for at least the last
12 months.
2. If you are unsure whether someone qualifies as a family member for this purpose, you should
check with your landlord. You can ask your landlord to allow family members who haven’t lived
with you for 12 months to buy with you, but they do not have to agree to this.

Fill in the table below for each tenant of the property, and then for any family member(s) who
are not tenants but wish to share the Right to Buy with you.
Title Full name Do they wish Only/main
to buy? home? (Y/N)
(Y/N)
Tenant 1

Tenant 2

Tenant 3

Title Full name Have they Do they Relationship Only/

lived in this wish to to tenant main
property for buy? (son, etc.) home
the last 12 (Y/N) ?
months? (Y/N) (Y/N)

Family
member 1

Family
member 2

Family
member 3
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Part C: Qualification and discount

Note:
You must have been a public sector tenant for at least three years to qualify to buy your home
at a discount.
You do not need to have spent the full three years in your present home or with your present
landlord. In some circumstances periods which another person (such as your husband, wife or
civil partner) has spent as a public sector tenant or armed forces occupier can count towards
your qualifying period.
The longer you have been a tenant, the bigger the discount you could be eligible for.
Maximum discount levels apply. For details of the current discount levels, please go to
www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy.

Please give details of:

• Your current tenancy
• Previous tenancies
• Previous tenancies of your spouse/civil partner
• Previous tenancies of your spouse/civil partner’s ex-partner (if they were married
at the time or if they were living together at the time of death)
• If you are claiming a tenancy that was not in your name please tell us your
relationship to the tenant of that address
• You should also sign the ‘Authority to Disclose’ form if you are claiming a
previous tenancy with a different landlord so that we can confirm the details.

Current tenancy

Property address (including

postcode)

Name of tenant 1

Name of tenant 2

Name of tenant 3

Date tenancy started (MM/YY)

If 'yes' – give details
Have you ever been known by any Yes
other name? No

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Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

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Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

Previous tenancy details

Name of tenant

Landlord of the property (e.g. name of

council/housing association)

Property address (including postcode)

Enter date tenancy started (MM/YYYY)

Enter date tenancy ended (MM/YYYY)

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Authority to disclose
Please complete this form if you have claimed any tenancy with another landlord. It will
help us to process your application more quickly.
Name(s):

Address:

Postcode: Date (DD/MM/YYY):

I have provided details of all previous tenancies in my application form for the Right to Buy
(RTB1) and I give consent for my landlord to request and receive any information relating to any
previous tenancy I have claimed towards my qualification criteria and discount entitlement for
the Right to Buy.
All tenants must sign this form, even if they aren’t joining in the Right to Buy
Tenants’ signatures:

Signed (Tenant 1): Signed (Tenant 2):

Signed (Tenant 3):

Family members’ signatures:

Signed (Family member 1): Signed (Family member 2):

Signed (Family member 3):

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Part D: Previous discount

Note:
You may get a lower discount if you purchased through Right to Buy on another home (or a
different government scheme). The amount of your previous discount, less any amount
repaid, will be taken into account when determining the discount value for your current
purchase.

Give details below of any previous purchase, at a discount, from a public sector landlord (see
the list of public sector landlords at the end of this form) which you or your husband, wife or civil
partner, or deceased husband, wife or civil partner, have made. If you are making a joint
application, provide details in relation to each purchaser.
Address of the property Name of your landlord
(including postcode)

Date of purchase (MM/YYYY)

Name of purchaser(s)

Have you ever repaid any of the discount given? Yes No

If 'Yes', how much? When?

Address of the property Name of your landlord

(including postcode)

Date of purchase (MM/YYYY)

Name of purchaser(s)

Have you ever repaid any of the discount given? Yes No

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If 'Yes', how much? When?

Part E: Tenants’ improvements

Note:
When the property is valued, any improvements which you have made will not be included in
the valuation. You should use this application form to give details of any improvements you
have made which you think may affect the valuation. This could include central heating,
double glazing, a fitted kitchen or a new bathroom suite.
The value of improvements will also be ignored where they were carried out by either:
• your predecessor in the same tenancy (including an introductory tenancy at the start of
the tenancy); or
• a family member who was a secure or introductory tenant of the property immediately
before you under a different tenancy.

Give the following details of any tenants’ improvements to the property (tick those that apply):

General decoration Give details:

Flooring Give details:

Kitchen fittings Give details:

Bathroom fittings Give details:

Garden landscaping Give details:

Other? Give details:

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Part F: Signatures
To the best of my/our knowledge and belief the information that has been provided on this form is
true, complete and correct. I/we understand it is used in determining my/our eligibility for the Right
to Buy.
I/we understand that if I/we give false or misleading information or I/we omit information for the
purpose of gaining the Right to Buy, it may be regarded as a criminal offence and action could
be taken against me/us including court action and the recovery of property.

Tenant 1: Tenant 2:
Signature Signature

Full name Full name

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY) Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

Phone number Phone number

Email address (optional): Email address (optional):

Tenant 3:
Signature

Full name

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

Phone number

Email address (optional):

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Tenant(s) not wishing to buy:

Note:
Your tenancy will end if the purchase goes ahead.

Signature
Signature

Full name
Full name

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

Family member 1 (who is not a tenant but is Family member 2 (who is not a tenant but is
sharing the Right to Buy): sharing the Right to Buy):
Signature Signature

Full name Full name

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY) Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

Family member 3 (who is not a tenant but is

sharing the Right to Buy):
Signature

Full name

Date of birth Date (DD/MM/YYYY)

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Before you send your form to your landlord
Before you send this application form to your landlord, make a copy and check that you have
completed the following:

The full address of the property you want to buy (make sure you have included the area
where you live and the full postcode).

The name of your landlord e.g. Nottingham City Council.

The full names of everyone listed on your tenancy agreement/rent book (e.g. RICK
SMITH would probably be RICHARD JAMES SMITH). Make sure you tick the boxes to
say whether the property is each tenant’s only or principal property, and if they wish to
buy. On joint tenancies, not all tenants may wish to buy.

The full names of any family members who wish to share the Right to Buy with you. They
must be a family member, spouse or civil partner. They must have lived in the property as
their main home for at least the last 12 months. They must be over 18.

Details of your current and previous public sector tenancies. Make sure you have
completed dates, names of tenants, addresses and name of landlord for your tenancies,
those of your spouse/civil partner, those of your former spouse/civil partner who you have
divorced or who has died, parents who previously held the tenancy.

Details of any discount previously received under the Right to Buy or other government
home ownership schemes, for example Right to Acquire. You do not need to give details
of applications, only purchases.

Details of any improvements you have made to the property. The improvements may
have increased the value of the property. If you disclose them in your application, the
value of the improvements will not be included in the valuation of the property so you
don’t pay twice.

Signatures of everyone listed on your tenancy agreement/rent book and any family
members who wish to share the Right to Buy with you. Make sure all tenants sign in the
correct place.

Have YOU signed the form (Part F)?

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STOP – HAVE YOU CHECKED YOU HAVE INCLUDED ALL THE INFORMATION on page 12?

What happens next?

Tear this section off and use to keep a note of important dates and information as you go
through the process
Please fill this in as you go along:
1. Now you have completed your application, make a copy and take or send it by recorded
delivery to your landlord. If you take it in person, don’t forget to get a receipt.

Did you get a receipt? Receipt date and number:

2. Landlord confirms if you are eligible (RTB 2 form) – your landlord has up to 4 weeks from receipt
of your application to reply confirming whether you have the Right to Buy, or 8 weeks if you have
been with your current landlord for less than 3 years. My landlord should confirm or deny my
eligibility by:

3. Receive an offer – your landlord has to send your offer notice within a specific time from the date
you receive your RTB2 confirming your eligibility. This is within 8 weeks where your home is
freehold (usually houses or bungalows); or within 12 weeks where it is leasehold (usually flats or
maisonettes). I should receive my offer notice by:

This offer notice, which is known as a s125 notice, sets out:

• The landlord’s valuation of your property*, your discount, the price you’ll pay.
• Any structural problems the landlord knows about.
• Any terms and conditions of the purchase.
• For leasehold properties only, the s125 offer notice will also include an estimate of the service
charges that you will need to pay over the next 5 years.
* If you are not happy with your landlord’s valuation you have the right to ask for an independent
valuation by a District Valuer.
4. Decide if you want to go ahead with your Right to Buy – you have up to 12 weeks to accept your
landlord’s offer. It’s during this time that you’ll need to arrange a mortgage or loan if you need
one, get a survey and hire a solicitor. Get independent financial and legal advice (if you haven’t
already done so) and check you understand all the costs before you sign anything. I need to
respond to my landlord’s offer by:

5. Complete the purchase – Once you’re happy with your landlord’s terms and have arranged how
you will pay for your home, carry on and complete your purchase.
It’s usually during this time that you pay your stamp duty (if applicable) and finalise and sign the
paperwork. Your solicitor will advise you and help with arrangements for these final stages of the
process.
I could be a homeowner on:

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Public sector landlords (see Parts C and D)
Community councils Transport for London
Local Authorities Trinity House (in some circumstances)
New town corporations United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Parish councils United Kingdom Sports Council
Urban development corporations
In Wales:
Housing Action Trusts
Countryside Council for Wales
Registered social landlords (but not co-operative
National Assembly for Wales (in some
housing associations)
circumstances)
Government departments National Library of Wales
Ministers of the Crown National Museum of Wales
Secretary of State (in some circumstances) Sports Council for Wales
Area electricity boards In Scotland:
Fire and rescue authorities
Internal drainage boards Councils
Development corporations
National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts
Passenger transport executives Housing associations (in some circumstances)
Police authorities Water authorities
Water authorities Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
Agricultural and Food Research Council Scottish Homes
British Airports Authority Scottish Natural Heritage
British Broadcasting Corporation Scottish Sports Council
British Coal Corporation South of Scotland Electricity Board
British Gas Corporation
British Railways Board In Northern Ireland:
British Steel Corporation District councils
British Waterways Board Education and Library Boards
Central Electricity Generating Board Registered housing associations
Church Commissioners Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Civil Aviation Authority Northern Ireland Electricity Service
Coal Authority Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Electricity Council Northern Ireland Policing Board
English Sports Council Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
Environment Agency Sports Council for Northern Ireland
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for
England In respect of housing co-operative agreements
Housing Corporation In England and Wales, a local housing authority,
Lake District Special Planning Board new town corporation, or the Development Board for
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Rural Wales.
Medical Research Council In Scotland, a local housing authority.
National Bus Company
Natural England (in some circumstances) And any predecessor of these landlords
Natural Environment Research Council
Peak Park Joint Planning Board
Post Office
Science and Engineering Research Council
Sports Council

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