Estimate your Right to Buy discount based on your tenancy length, property type, and region. Check eligibility and see your discounted purchase price.
This calculator provides estimates based on the 2026-27 Right to Buy scheme rules. Actual discount amounts are determined by your council. Eligibility depends on additional criteria including secure tenancy status. Always contact your local council for a formal Right to Buy application.
Right to Buy is a long-standing government scheme that gives eligible council tenants in England the right to purchase their home at a discounted price. The discount depends on how long you have been a tenant, the type of property (house or flat), and the region you live in. For tenants who have lived in their council home for many years, the discount can be substantial, potentially saving tens of thousands of pounds. This calculator estimates your Right to Buy discount based on the 2026-27 scheme rules. It takes into account the different discount rates for houses and flats, the regional cash caps that apply in London and the rest of England, and the minimum qualifying period of 3 years. The results show your estimated discount, the purchase price after discount, and whether the regional cap has been applied.
To calculate your Right to Buy discount: 1. Enter the estimated property value. If you do not know the current market value, check recent sales of similar properties in your area using the Land Registry or Rightmove. Your council will arrange an independent valuation as part of the formal application. 2. Use the slider to set your total years of tenancy. This includes time spent as a public sector tenant (council or housing association), and years do not need to be consecutive. The minimum qualifying period is 3 years. 3. Select your property type. Houses and flats have different discount scales. Flats receive a higher starting discount (50% vs 35%) and the discount increases faster (2% vs 1% per year). 4. Select your region. London has a higher discount cap (GBP 136,400) than the rest of England (GBP 102,400) for 2026-27. 5. Review the results. The calculator shows your discount percentage, discount amount (which may be capped), the purchase price after discount, and your eligibility status.
The Right to Buy discount is calculated using government-set rules that differ by property type: For houses: the discount starts at 35% of the property value after 3 years of qualifying tenancy. For each additional year beyond 3, the discount increases by 1 percentage point, up to a maximum of 70%. For flats: the discount starts at 50% after 3 years and increases by 2 percentage points per additional year, also up to a maximum of 70%. The percentage discount is then converted to a cash amount. This cash amount is compared against the regional discount cap. For 2026-27, the caps are GBP 136,400 in London and GBP 102,400 in the rest of England. If the cash discount exceeds the cap, the cap applies instead. Purchase price = property value minus the applicable discount (the lower of the percentage discount and the regional cap). For example, a flat valued at GBP 200,000 with 5 years tenancy in England: 50% + (2 x 2%) = 54%, giving a discount of GBP 108,000. This exceeds the England cap of GBP 102,400, so the capped discount of GBP 102,400 applies, and the purchase price is GBP 97,600.
Eligibility for Right to Buy requires that you are a secure tenant of a council property in England and have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years in total. Housing association tenants may be eligible for the separate Right to Acquire scheme or the Preserved Right to Buy. The scheme does not apply in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, where similar schemes have been abolished. If you sell your Right to Buy property within 5 years of purchase, you must repay some or all of the discount on a sliding scale: 100% in year one, 80% in year two, 60% in year three, 40% in year four, and 20% in year five. After 5 years, no repayment is required. You must also offer the property back to your former landlord or another social housing provider before selling on the open market. The discount caps are updated annually in line with CPI. Your council will confirm the exact discount and purchase price through the formal Section 125 notice, which also details any structural issues with the property. It is strongly recommended to obtain an independent survey and legal advice before proceeding with a Right to Buy purchase.