Housing

Right to Acquire

The Right to Acquire (RTA) gives eligible housing association tenants a statutory right to purchase the property in which they live at a discount, generally between £9,000 - £16,000 depending on the local authority area in which the property is located.

RTA only applies to properties built or acquired by housing associations, both charitable and non charitable, with public funds from 1 April 1997 onwards. (Properties transferred from a local authority to a housing association after 1 April 1997 are also eligible).

Some properties are exempt from RTA including those in small rural settlements and sheltered housing. If you are an existing housing association tenant, your landlord will be able to advise you whether your house qualifies for RTA.

To be eligible for the Right to Acquire scheme, a tenant must occupy a qualifying property, have spent a minimum period as a public sector tenant, and live in a self-contained flat or house which is their only home. The minimum period for those who were tenants before 18 January 2005 is two years. This was extended to five years for new tenants from 18 January 2005 by the Housing Act 2004.

The Housing Corporation provides grant to cover the discount offered to the purchaser.

For further details, contact your housing association.

Further information on the RTA scheme is available on the Housing Corporation (external link) website.

For further policy information email: rta@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7944 4519 or 8762

Lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods

Find out more about the national strategy for housing in an ageing society.

Have your say

My favourites