The Right to Acquire gives you the legal right to buy the home you currently rent from us, providing you meet our criteria.

The information below is only a guide to the scheme and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. We recommend that you always take independent advice on mortgages, insurance and legal matters.

Who has the Right to Acquire?

·        New tenants of Halton Housing Trust, who started their tenancy after December 2005, as long as certain criteria are met.

·        Eligible secure and assured tenants.

As well as occupying a home we own, you must also:

·        Have spent two years as a secure tenant of a local authority, armed forces or Registered Social Landlord (“RSL”), such as the Trust, (this increases to five years where your tenancy commenced on or after 18th January 2005).

·        Live in a house or flat which is a self-contained property and is your only or main home.

Please note a family member can join in the Right to Acquire if they can prove they have resided in your home for at least 12 months before you apply.

Who is excluded from the Right to Acquire?

You will not be eligible to claim the Right to Acquire if:

·        You are a not a tenant living in a home owned by us.

·        Your tenancy is a lease for more than 21 years.

·        Your home is let to you in connection with your employment.

·        Your home is designated for older or disabled people.

·        We have served you with a notice that we intend to demolish your home within two years.

·        A court order is issued asking you to leave your home or the terms of a suspended court order are breached.

·        You are the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order and your tenancy is temporarily demoted to an assured shorthold tenancy. You will have the Right to Acquire at the end of the demotion period.

·        You are an undischarged bankrupt, or have a bankruptcy petition pending against you or are subject to a possession order served by the court, at the request of your landlord.

·        You are subject to a formal creditors agreement made under the Insolvency Acts.

How do I apply?

If you would like to apply for the scheme or need further information please contact our Commercial Services team on 0151 510 5000 or speak to your housing team in the local area office.

They will provide you with an application form and a full explanatory leaflet.

You will need to complete and return an application form. If you are a joint tenant, the other tenant must also sign the form.

What happens after I send the application to my landlord?

After we have carried out some initial checks on the home you would like to acquire, our appointed valuer will arrange to visit your home to assess its market value.

We will then make you an offer based on the market value, less any discount that you are entitled to, and ask you within the following 12 weeks to decide whether to proceed, cancel or appeal against the valuation.

How much discount will I receive?

The amount of discount you receive is a fixed amount published by the government, regardless of how long you have been a tenant.

This is currently £9,000 for the North West. If you have previously had a discount to help you buy a home, this may be taken off your Right to Acquire discount.