1

Right to Buy Communications toolkit for Local Authorities

Campaigns and Marketing Team Department for Communities and Local Government

Last updated: May 2015

2

Contents

1) Introduction 3 - 4

- What this toolkit is for

- Further information

2) Quick guide to Informing tenants about Right to Buy: 5 - 6

- Top tips

- Free channels and activity

- Budget

3) Materials and statutory requirements: 7 - 8

- Statutory responsibilities – what information you must provide - Benefits of making information available to tenants - How to provide this information to tenants - Materials available and order details

4) Digital: 9 - 11

- Updating your websites - Government Right to Buy website - Social media: Top tips

5) Face-to-face advice 12

6) Partners: Useful contacts for Right to Buy 13-14

7) Press and media handling 15

8) Communication toolbox: 16 - 22

- Toolbox: Summary of contents 16

- Event toolkit 17 - 18

- Digital toolkit – includes website copy and online tools 19 - 22

3

1. Introduction Major changes to Right to Buy have been introduced since 2012. From 6 April 2015 you could get a maximum discount of up to [£77,900], or [£103,900 if you live in London]. This amount increases every year in April in line with the consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation. Landlords have statutory duties to inform tenants about their rights and about changes to Right to Buy. You should plan and prepare your communications accordingly to inform tenants about the changes. There are a range of products in the toolkit to help you and we will be updating relevant products (i.e. those that detail maximum discounts) once the changes come into force.

What this toolkit is for:

This toolkit will help landlords meet legal obligations and help manage

increased interest, enquiries and applications more effectively.

Councils who have used the approach set out in this toolkit have reported a

better application to sale ratio (fewer speculative applications) which is helping

to reduce costs of processing unsuccessful applications.

The purpose is to provide practical information to help tenants understand the

scheme, the process and where to go for unbiased information, which will help

them to make informed decisions – ideally BEFORE they apply.

Who this toolkit is for: Primarily for landlords:

Right to Buy officers and managers

Share this with your local communications team (i.e. web, marketing, press).

They will be able to advise you about the channels available to reach tenants

in your area.

What this toolkit contains:

Every stock holding landlord in England is delivering Right to Buy. This toolkit

is a way of sharing local experience and good practice so you don’t have to

start from scratch.

Informing tenants does not have to be expensive. This toolkit contains a range

of free and low cost options. You can select the materials and approach best

suited to your area.

4

Contains a range of practical materials, templates, guidance and tips which

are tailored to different stages of the process.

Some materials are available free of charge in hard copy and online. Others

are templates that you can tailor locally.

The content of this toolkit has been developed with input from councils, the Financial Conduct Authority and tenants. It has been tried and tested. Please note: All the figures and information given in this toolkit guide are correct at the date of publication. The Department will make every effort to ensure the guide is updated where there are changes but it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that they are applying the relevant legislation correctly. We advise that you ensure it complies with your own organisation’s policies and procedures and, if appropriate, has been cleared by your organisation’s legal service.

For further information:

To download all the material listed in this toolkit please visit the partner

section of the Right to Buy website at:

https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/partner-resources/

This toolkit compliments the policy toolkit ‘Right to Buy: A Guide for Local

Authorities’ which provides practitioners with guidance and good practice on

the operation of Right to Buy. Available from the partner section of the Right

to Buy website or by emailing RTB@communities.gsi.gov.uk .

If you have a tip or material you would like to share with other Right to Buy

practitioners, please email RTB@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Knowledge Hub forum – a network of local Right to Buy officers sharing

questions, advice and tips: https://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/.

Enquiries about Right to Buy Communications, toolkit, templates – or if you

cannot find what you are looking for: marketing@communities.gsi.gov.uk

5

2. Quick guide to informing tenants about Right to Buy Further detail on each of these tips is provided in the main sections.

Providing basic information about Right to Buy can reduce the number of enquiries and speculative applications landlords receive, which can save time and money associated with processing these forms. It also allows tenants to make more informed decisions about whether buying their home is the right choice for them.

Start with key facts – eligibility criteria, discount levels and likely costs of homeownership. Make them easily available, with clear signposting to where to get further information if they are interested. This can help filter out those who are not eligible or have no realistic prospect of buying their home. This is a good way to keep costs and resources manageable.

Worked examples of eligibility criteria and discount levels have proved very useful and popular with tenants. The ‘guide to the application form’ has helped reduce the number of common errors and omissions. You can include these in your own materials and on your websites.

Have template letters prepared for each stage of the process – confirm eligibility, offer letter etc – make sure these are kept up-to-date.

Make sure your main switchboard has basic information about Right to Buy so they can direct callers to the right place quickly.

Working with partners can free up valuable resource and time for you and ensures tenants get the advice they need. Free, unbiased information is available for tenants from organisations such as the Money Advice Service.

Free channels and activity

Your website is a crucially important resource and it’s free. A number of council websites direct tenants straight to the application form, which could encourage speculative applications. An informative website can save a lot of time and resource dealing with basic enquiries, and keep your print and postage costs low. Your local web team should be able to help you update your site, and you can use our template web copy.

Use your website to provide key facts BEFORE they get to the application form. You may also want to add practical tools like the eligibility checker, discounts calculator and the online version of the application form. We’ve seen a huge number of eligible tenants visiting the Government Right to Buy site – the eligibility and discounts calculators are used thousands of times every month – that’s a lot of phone enquiries saved.

6

Don’t forget social media as another free resource – your council will most likely have a twitter feed and a Facebook page, and you can make use of Government channels – we monitor these closely and have answered thousands of tenant’s questions.

Consider using existing mailings to tenants, such as the rent statement issued to all tenants. You only need to include a short message and a link where to go if they want more information.

Posters and leaflets could be displayed for free at Estate Notice Boards, Tenants and Residents Association Halls, Council Offices and Area Housing Offices. Libraries, leisure centres and other areas may also be free for you to display materials.

Consider using screens in receptions areas – you could have presentations or our video running on a loop (no need for print costs).

Place articles, stories and news items in tenant and leaseholder local magazines as well as local newspapers. Stories from recent Right to Buy purchasers and interviews with local spokesmen can help bring your story to life and help it get noticed.

Is your council leader supportive? Consider opportunities for them to help raise awareness e.g. estate roadshows/local press/local events.

Many tenants value the opportunity to talk to someone at the council in person – particularly important for such a life changing decision. This could range from drop in sessions to housing open days or even a Right to Buy event.

Budget

You may need some budget for printed items of statutory documents like the booklet and application forms. Your local communications team should have details of local printers and arrange this for you.

You may want to print your own posters and leaflets rather than use the DCLG versions. You could use our templates, or simple factsheets printed in-house can be very effective. Encourage tenants to access information online where practical.

You may consider writing to tenants on your database. To keep costs manageable, you could refine the list to those more likely to be eligible and able to take up their Right to Buy – filter by length of tenancy and not in receipt of housing benefit as a starting point. You don’t need to send lots of information – a letter setting out key facts along with signposts to further information could be sufficient.

Have a schedule of upcoming activities and dates – quarterly Right to Buy sales stats publications, changes to eligibility criteria – along with local activities such as council events and tenant newsletter publication dates. This will help you plan ahead, make use of free channels and get budget approved in advance if you need it.

7

3. Material and statutory requirements

Statutory responsibilities: S121AA of the Housing Act 1985 requires landlords to prepare a document that contains specific information about the Right to Buy for its secure tenants.1 This document must cover specific themes, which are set out below. You must revise the document to reflect changes and ensure that the information is kept up to date. You also need to publish the document (whether in its original or revised form) and provide copies of it to secure tenants. Copies of the current document need to be available free of charge, to persons requesting them at your main offices and anywhere else you think is appropriate. You also need to take appropriate steps to make tenants aware that copies of the document are available free of charge. The document current at the time must be supplied to each secure tenant at least once every 5 years, beginning with the date the document was first supplied. Also where you revise the document, following changes to the Right to Buy, you need to publish this within one month of the revision You should make sure that the information is provided in easily accessible format. If you don’t have an information booklet to hand, you can include the Department’s free Right to Buy summary booklet ‘Want to make your home your own?’ which covers the content set out below.

The themes are set out below. The information in the document must be limited to the themes only. 1. An outline of part 5 of the Act relating to:

a) the circumstances in which the Right to Buy can and cannot be exercised b) the exceptions to the Right to Buy c) the procedure for claiming the Right to Buy d) the price payable; and e) the delay notice procedures.

2. The fact that initial costs will be likely to be incurred by a secure tenant exercising the Right to Buy including costs in respect of –

a) stamp duty b) legal and survey fees c) valuation fees and costs associated with taking out a mortgage

3. The fact that a secure tenant will be likely to have to make regular payments as a homeowner including:

a) any mortgage or charge on the property b) building insurance, life insurance and mortgage payment protection insurance c) council tax d) water, sewerage, gas, electricity or other utility services

4. The risk of repossession if regular mortgage payments are not made.

1 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/section/121AA

8

5. The fact that in order to keep the property maintained and in good repair an owner will be likely to have to incur expenditure which may include payment of service charges in respect of major works.

Benefits of making this information available to tenants:

In addition to meeting your statutory duties, making this type of information easily

available to tenants can help to improve the quality of applications:

Tenant understanding about even the basics of Right to Buy was surprisingly

low. In a survey conducted in May 2012, less than 25% of social housing

tenants knew that Right to Buy meant they could buy their home at a discount.

Good quality, balanced information that is easily available helps tenants to

consider the potential risks and benefits involved, allowing them to make

better informed and responsible decisions about whether buying their home is

the right choice for them.

The more informed tenants are before they apply, the more informed/better

quality (more serious) applications landlords are likely to receive. This is

helping councils to reduce costs of processing applications – administrative

and associated costs, such as carrying out property valuations and legal

checks on applications.

How to provide this information to tenants: You may consider writing directly to tenants on your database. You can tailor

your mailing so that you are sending information to those more likely to be

eligible. Sending a short letter and summary booklet to these tenants could

mean you get better quality applications. See our template letter and summary

booklet.

You can hand out leaflets and put up posters in libraries, leisure centres, job

centres, community centres and council offices/ estates. Consider screens in

reception areas. This is a good way to reinforce messages and information on

Right to Buy in places that tenants might go to frequently.

Don’t forget to update your websites. See Section 2 – Top Tips for other ways

to make information available to tenants.

Materials available for landlords: The Department has produced a range of content that you can utilise including posters, PowerPoint packs and event material. Go to the toolbox for details.

To order free printed copies of the RTB1 application form, Right to Buy summary

booklet (Want to make your home your own? 9781409842736) and other material,

contact the DCLG distribution centre at:

Tel: 0300 123 1124; Email: products@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

You can order up to 200 Right to Buy leaflets and 200 RTB1 application forms. If you require higher quantities please email marketing@communities.gsi.gov.uk with your request.

9

4. Digital Share this with your digital communications teams and get their advice on how to make use of social media, your website and other online tools.

Updating your website:

Your website is a crucially important source of information. It provides a way to help meet your statutory duties and it’s free. Increasing numbers of tenants are accessing information online. If tenants can’t get information from your website, they are more likely to call you with basic enquiries, or make an application.

A number of council websites direct tenants straight to the application form, and provide limited information about the scheme. This is more likely to encourage speculative applications.

If a tenant isn’t eligible for or can’t afford Right to Buy, it is clearly a waste of both the tenants and the landlord’s time if they start the application process. Research showed that very few tenants are aware of or understand the eligibility criteria for Right to Buy.

If you update your website with key facts BEFORE they get to the application form, this can answer a lot of initial enquiries and point tenants to the right sources of information. This can save a lot of time and resource dealing with basic/commonly asked questions, keep your print costs low and reduce purely speculative applications.

Make sure that the Right to Buy information can be found easily on your website from your home page and your search engine.

Set out the information on your website so that it covers the following questions before they get to the application form:

o About Right to Buy o Eligibility criteria o Discount levels o Further information o How to apply

This can help filter out those who have no realistic prospect of buying their home. You can use our template web copy available in the digital toolbox.

We’ve developed practical tools like the eligibility and discounts calculators and the online version of the application form. These have been very popular with tenants. 67% of tenants who’ve completed the quiz met the basic eligibility criteria (which means 33% who possibly didn’t apply as they already knew they were not eligible). You can embed these on your own site or link to the government site.

10

Use our diagrams and step-by-step flowcharts where you can. Worked examples of discounts have proved really helpful to tenants to get a rough idea of discount levels.

If you aren’t able to add more content to your site, you can have a brief description with a link to our dedicated Right to Buy website- see below.

Link to other partner sites such as the Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk which has lots of practical information for those unsure about the financial aspects of home buying. For more partner suggestions, look at the Partners section.

Contact – Make it easy for tenants to know who to contact by putting a phone number and email address on the page.

Social media – if you use social media, encourage users to follow you by featuring the badges clearly. You can also link to the official Right to Buy Facebook page at www.facebook.com/righttobuy or other social media tools (refer to ‘Social Media’ section of this toolkit).

Government Right to Buy website:

To ease the pressure of enquiries on Local Authorities, the Department for

Communities and Local Government have created a website specifically on Right to

Buy. All Local Authorities can use these in their communications or on their websites

(www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy).

The site contains practical tools such as eligibility and discounts calculators, the

online application form and a video (practical videos explaining the process are in

development), along with FAQs and signposts to where to go for free, unbiased

information and advice. Eligible tenants can also order the online version of our

summary booklet via our site. These practical tools were developed in close

collaboration with councils and are free to use on your own sites. Instructions are set

out below:

Social Media:

Social media is growing in its power as a communications and ‘sharing’ channel. DCLG have created Right to Buy pages on key social media sites listed below. You can link through to these sites from your own council website or create your own pages.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/righttobuy

Twitter - @righttobuy

11

Why social media?

By using social media tools effectively you’ll be able talk to a wide range of people in your area, as well share messages quickly:

You should use social media channels for communication, engagement and

relationship-building

listen to what people are saying about your council and your policies online

and respond where appropriate

increase the use of social media tools to widen access to Right to Buy

information

Facebook 50% of the UK population are now using Facebook. Increasingly, local authorities are finding that social media has real value when communicating with the public. DCLG have set up a Right to Buy facebook page that is very active and popular. Members are actively posting questions about Right to Buy, exchanging stories and asking for more information. Remember: once you have posted something online it is very difficult to remove. Check the accuracy and sensitivity of what you’re saying before you press ‘submit’. Make sure you know your organisations rules and policy on social media and talk to your digital teams beforehand.

Top tips for using social media: 1) Have a clear idea of your objectives in using social media (behaviour change/ service delivery/ consultation/ communication) 2) Learn the rules of each social media channel before using them 3) Build relationships with your visitors, on and offline – social media is just one of many communication channels 4) Do not open a channel of communication you cannot maintain 5) Understand when a conversation should be taken offline i.e. if there is anything sensitive, personal or contentious being discussed 6) Do not engage with users who are aggressive/ abusive

12

5. Face-to-face advice

Many tenants really value the opportunity to talk to someone at the council in person. This is particularly important for such a life changing decision.

Landlords have approached this in different ways, and many have found that a simple discussion about the eligibility criteria, the level of discount and likely cost of purchasing can help filter out those who are not eligible or have no realistic prospect of buying their home.

Drop-in sessions – could be regular drop in sessions on a specific day of the week (first Monday of the month for example). Could either be Right to Buy specific or general housing drop-in sessions.

If a tenant has expressed an interest in Right to Buy, consider inviting them to meet with you. You could either do this at the start of the process, or in the offer letter you send to tenants (or both). If possible, also include an invitation to meet a financial expert to discuss the financial aspect of buying and running a home.

Some councils have run specific Right to Buy events/open days to provide tenants with a one-stop shop to learn as much as possible about Right to Buy and homeownership before submitting an application. The event which Basildon Council hosted in 2013 shows that tenants are keen to speak to their landlord and others and find out more about the Right to Buy: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb8qPp41ckU). Guidance on how to run a similar event is in the toolbox.

Is your council holding any events for the public that could include information about Right to Buy – AGM, housing open days. What about partners like local Help to Buy agents, Citizens Advice Bureau or Independent Financial Advisors? These can offer a really effective way to reach lots of tenants in one go and joining an existing event means a lot less resource and planning for you.

We have created a range of material you can use for different types of events. Includes posters, factsheets and presentations. Refer to the Event toolbox.

13

6. Partners – Useful contacts for Right to Buy

We understand that resources and time are limited for many Right to Buy practitioners. But there is help at hand. There are a number of organisations who provide free and impartial advice via phone, website and printed booklets and fact sheets. Working with partner organisations will help to reduce the burden of dealing with enquiries, essentially freeing up your time to process serious applications.

Your council might already have links to a number of partners. Are they able to assist with Right to Buy enquiries, attend events you might be holding, have leaflets or packs that might be suitable for your tenants, and online guidance you can signpost to from your website?

Key contacts (a useful contacts factsheet for tenants is provided in the toolkit and on our website):

The Money Advice Service (MAS) has a call centre and comprehensive website with mortgage and budgeting tools, as well as free leaflets about managing finances. This means potential and existing applicants can get free and unbiased advice about their financial situation and what costs are involved in being a homeowner, compared to being a tenant.

Tel: 0300 500 5000 – www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). For tenants buying a leasehold

property, you may want to signpost them to LEASE. Funded by Government,

they provide free advice on leasehold properties, including guidance on

service charges and ground rent.

Tel: 0207 383 9800 www.lease-advice.org

Legal contacts:

For help in finding a solicitor, tenants can contact The Law Society

Tel: 020 7320 5650 www.lawsociety.org.uk/findasolicitor

For local Citizens Advice Bureau - www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Other useful links:

Right to Buy Agent team - The Government’s official Right to Buy Agent service offers free and impartial advice on Right to Buy, and advisers can also help tenants through the process of buying their home: https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/agent-service/

Help to Buy Agents – advice on a range of Government schemes for affordable homeownership options. www.helptobuy.org.uk

Stamp duty: For information and the latest rates tenants: www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax-rates

14

Surveys: Tenants can visit the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Chartered Surveyors (RICS):

- To find a surveyor: www.ricsfirms.com

- For guides: www.rics.org/usefulguides

15

7. Press and Media Handling

Right to Buy offers opportunities for press and media coverage in your area of how your council is helping tenants to become homeowners. You may want to contact (or receive enquiries from) local journalists about Right to Buy. This could be about a local event you may be running, sales figures, or to inform tenants about changes to the scheme. Share this section with the people in your council responsible for dealing with press and media. They will be able to work with you and advise on how to get the best coverage for the work you’re doing.

Journalists receive hundreds of press notices every day. Your press team will make sure your press notice stands out from the others and gives them an idea of how they can write their story for their paper – i.e. makes it easy for them to use your story and the content of your press release.

They’ll need an eye-catching headline, opening paragraph and soundbites – short phrases and sentences that captures the essence of what you want to say, capture the journalist’s attention and make your press notice stand out.

As part of this, they’ll need you to identify who benefits from Right to Buy, particularly the local angle, and along with key facts and figures.

Including case studies will maximise the chances of your press team securing local coverage – who has this already benefited and will they be happy to speak to the media about their experience? For example a Right to Buy success story with a picture or quote.

Mark milestones – are you about to hit a key number of sales in your area – first 50, 100 or 500? Could a local councillor hand the keys to the 100th new homeowner in your area? This would make a good photo opportunity for your local paper and something your press team could use to generate interest

Look for a hook. Is there a bigger local or national story that you could link to and boost your story?

Contact details: Make sure you have clear contact details for your Right to Buy team or other sources of information. Use social media so you do not lose any potential interest!

Place articles, stories and news items in tenant and leaseholder local magazines as well as local newspapers. Stories from recent Right to Buy purchasers and interviews with local spokesmen can help bring your story to life and help it get noticed.

Is your council leader supportive? Or any other local champions/ spokesmen. Consider opportunities for them to help raise awareness e.g. estate roadshows/ local press/ local events.

16

Communication toolbox

Below is a list of free and available material for informing tenants about Right to Buy. These are all available to download from the partner section of the Right to Buy website at https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/partner-resources/. Some of the material is editable so you can add in your own contact details, logos or other information. If you have any questions about the items listed in this catalogue or would like the Indesign files, please email marketing@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

General Right to Buy material Format/ Size Practical information and guidance ‘Your Right to Buy your Home – A guide for tenants of councils, new towns and registered social landlords including housing associations’. A4 PDF

RTB1 application form A4 PDF, online, printed

RTB summary booklet : ‘Want to make your home your own?’ A5 PDF & printed

Right to Buy: Guide for Local Authorities A4 PDF Delay procedure: Guide for Local Authorities A4 PDF Verifying tenancies: Guide for Local Authorities A4 PDF Awareness raising material JPEG/ Slides for use around council offices PowerPoint

Factsheets

Guide to completing RTB1 form Word

Step-by-Step guide Word

Useful Contacts Word

Range of editable factsheet templates Word

Graphics

Step- by- step guide to buying your home (landscape) JPEG (landscape)

Step- by- step guide to buying your home (portrait) JPEG (portrait)

Event material

A5 events leaflet (x 2 versions) A5 PowerPoint

A4 events poster (x 2 versions) A4 PowerPoint

Invitation and welcome letters for events A4 Word and PDF

Visitor evaluation form Word

Staff evaluation form Word

Digital tools Eligibility quiz Embed code

Discount calculator Embed code

Online RTB1 application form Interactive PDF

Partner material Your Guide to Buying your Home (Law Society) A4 PDF

Advice Guide on Right to Buy (Leasehold Advisory Service) A4 PDF

Things to ask your mortgage adviser (Shelter) A4 PDF

Event Toolkit

17

Below is a checklist of what you should think about when planning an event. All the material referenced can be found on the Partner page of the Right to Buy website: https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/partner-resources/

Step 1: Booking a venue

As the event will be in your local area, you will be best placed to find an appropriate

venue that your tenants will feel comfortable with. Find out which venues you can use

for free - council meeting rooms or Town Hall are often good options.

Step 2: Publicising the event

We can provide you with a range of template materials that will help you to inform

tenants about the event. You can select any (or all) of the material in the toolbox and

tailor locally. You will also have access to various places like libraries, housing

offices, leisure centres so can put up posters or distribute leaflets at no cost.

Step 3: Partners

The event should aim to be a one-stop shop for information on Right to Buy. You should try to contact a number of independent organisations that might be able to provide impartial and relevant advice to your tenants such as:

Citizens Advice Bureau

Local Help to Buy agents

Independent financial and mortgage advisers

Local conveyancing firms

Step 4: Information packs

You should also try to provide visitors with an information pack with a range of material and relevant leaflets such as Right to Buy summary booklet, factsheets, free money advice service leaflets, guide to completing application forms. This will help to answer a lot of first-line enquiries and also get them thinking about their finances and if they can afford buying their home.

Step 5: Online tools at the event

You should try to provide laptops at your event with access to online tools and

resources including the Right to Buy eligibility checker, discount calculator, and other

house price and budgeting tools such as those on the Money Advice Service

website. Our experience shows that tenants are finding these tools really useful and

will act as a filter for eligible tenants. You can get further information in the Digital

toolkit

Step 7: Presentation on Right to Buy

18

It is a good idea to hold a small presentation on Right to Buy and other schemes at the event. This is a good way to tell a lot of people about the changes to Right to Buy all in one go. You can use our template PowerPoint in the main toolbox as a start. Remember to book any technical equipment you might need such as a projector, screen and audio equipment.

Step 8: Set up and logistics

Make sure the event is clearly signposted from reception areas so attendees and passers-by know where to go and what is on offer. Remember to organise furniture/ table and chairs if needed. You may also want posters and other visuals to ‘dress’ the room. DCLG can provide a range of display boards for you to use at local events, exhibitions or open days. However we only have limited amounts so please give some advance notice. Alternatively we can provide you with design templates and you can print your own. Please email marketing@communitiies.gsi.gov.uk.

Large exhibition pop up banner (3x3)

4 x pull-up banners

Information display boards

Display banners

Step 9: Evaluation

You should try to get some feedback from attendees and if you collect contact details you can send further information or follow ups after the event. You can use our template feedback forms.

19

Digital toolbox

Digital Toolbox

Copy for web pages – Long version - 1

About Right to Buy

Right to Buy allows eligible council tenants to buy their home at a discount. Since April 2012, the Government has increased the maximum discounts available.

In this section you’ll find information about eligibility criteria, discount levels and how to apply.

Buying your home is a big decision, so you should always get impartial financial and legal advice before deciding whether buying is right for you. This section also includes links to organisations that provide free, unbiased help and advice.

Eligibility

You probably have the Right to Buy if:

- You’re a secure council tenant (or were living in your home when the council transferred it to another landlord) and it’s your only or main home.

- You have spent at least [5 years] as a public sector tenant (The 5 years doesn’t have to be continuous and you can add together any time you have spent as a public sector tenant)

- You have no legal issues with debt or any outstanding possession orders. - 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.

Joint applications

You can make a joint application with:

your spouse someone who shares your tenancy up to 3 family members who’ve lived with you for the past 12 months (even if

they don’t share your tenancy)

Level of discount

You could get a maximum discount of up to [£77,900], or [£103,900 if you live in London]. This amount increases every year in April in line with inflation. The longer you have been a tenant, the bigger the discount you could get. Discounts for houses and flats are worked out differently:

20

House: If you live in a house (or bungalow), discounts start at 35% for 5 years’ tenancy. Add 1% for each extra year of tenancy (so 10 years tenancy = 40% discount, 20 years = 50%).

Flat: If you live in a flat, discounts start at 50% for 5 years’ tenancy. Add 2% for each extra year of tenancy (so 10 years tenancy = 60% discount, 15 years = 70%).

Like to know more? Further information is available in the Right to Buy summary booklet [either use Gov version or your own LA version] and on the Government website – www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy - includes eligibility and discount calculators, a step-by-step guide and answers to frequently asked questions. Before you apply, it’s worth looking into the costs of homeownership, mortgages and what you can afford. The Money Advice Service provides free and unbiased advice, and has a range of tools, tips and guidance on their website - www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk If you are buying a flat, you will most likely be buying a ‘leasehold’ property. Leasehold properties will have service charges even when you own your home - make sure you take these into account when you’re working out the costs. Talk to your landlord, or the Leasehold Advisory Service [insert url] The Government’s official Right to Buy Agent service is also here to help council and housing association tenants. The service offers free and impartial advice on Right to Buy and, if you decide home ownership is the right choice for you, the advisers can also help you through the process of buying your home: 0300 123 0913.

How to apply

Completed application forms need to be signed and returned in hard copy to your landlord [insert address to return it to…]

You can complete the RTB1 application form here [upload form or link to Right to Buy website – [see online tools for details] Guidance on the Right to Buy application form is here [https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/apply/rtb-2014-form/ ] – this will help to ensure you have all the information to hand to complete your application.

Copy for webpages – Version 2 (use this if you have limited

space)

About Right to Buy

Right to Buy allows eligible council tenants to buy their home at a discount. Since April 2012, the Government has increased the maximum discounts available.

If you’ve been a tenant for [5 years] or more, you could be eligible to buy your home with up to a 70% discount, or [insert max cash discount for your area], (whichever is lower).

21

If you’re interested in applying, it’s worth looking into the eligibility criteria, discount levels and what you can afford before you apply. You can find out more on the Government’s Right to Buy website – www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy. Buying your home is a big decision, so you should always get impartial financial and legal advice before deciding whether buying is right for you. The Government website also includes links to organisations that provide free, unbiased help and advice.

Online Tools:

Eligibility:

Research showed that very few tenants understood the eligibility criteria for Right to Buy. We have developed an interactive, calculator - tenants click yes or no to 6 basic questions to work out if they might be eligible. You can use the sample text provided, add the interactive version on your own site using the code below, or simply link to the eligibility quiz on the government site. To add the eligibility calculator on your site, use the link below: https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/resource/graphic-eligibility-quiz/

Discount calculator:

This calculator can help answer a lot common queries about likely discount levels, which could help reduce applications from tenants for whom buying is not a realistic option due to the cost. The online calculator estimates a tenant’s discount based on their length of tenancy, an estimated property value for their area (using Land Registry and English Housing Survey data) and an estimate of how much the property may cost after discount. This is used thousands of times each month on the Government site. You can add this to your own site, or add a link to the version on our website. To embed the calculator on your site, use the link below:

https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/resource/calculator-affordability/

If you are embedding the tool on your own site, you should make clear (as the Right to Buy site does) that these are rough costs, and that there are other costs to consider. The Right to Buy website signposts tenants to the Money Advice Service for further information about the costs of home ownership. They have reported high levels of visitors coming from our site.

22

Application form (RTB1):

You should make the RTB1 form available via your website. There is an online version of the RTB1 application form available at: https://righttobuy.communities.gov.uk/apply/rtb-2014-form/ This online version of the form can be much easier for tenants to complete (they still need to print and sign a hard copy to return to their landlord). We recommend including the ‘Guide to completing the RTB1 form’ with all application forms (available from the main toolbox). This was developed by a local authority who reported that this guide helped to reduce basic errors and omissions. Upload it on your website alongside the form, and include it out with any hard copy versions you send out.