Is Renting Your House to the Council Worth Guaranteed Rent?

  • November 10, 2022

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Should you be renting your house to the council? Council Guaranteed Rent Schemes are a great way to let your property for fixed income while shedding some layers of landlording responsibility. But is it worth the disadvantages and what are the solutions?

In this article, we are going to discuss :

Council tenant vs private tenant.

A private tenant rents a privately-owned residential property directly from the landlord or their agent. They pay rent to the landlord or their agency.

A council tenant is someone who needs affordable housing options and may be on low income or homeless in some cases. In the case of council tenancy, local councils arrange accommodation on these tenants’ behalf, and the tenant pays rent to the council directly. The council then pays fixed rent to the landlords, regardless of whether or not the tenant is up-to-date on their rental payments.

What Are DSS Tenants?

DSS tenants are council tenants who may be struggling with unemployment, disability or other financial difficulties. As a result, they can receive housing benefits from the council. These benefits often include monthly contributions towards rent (in the form of universal credit ).

DSS tenants typically have financial difficulties. For many landlords who have taken risks to invest in their properties, having a tenant who may not be able to pay rent in full or on time seems like a surefire way to increase the risk of their renting business. However, due to the existence of guaranteed council renting schemes, this risk is mitigated. Landlords can rent out their properties through the council and receive guaranteed rental income regardless of whether a tenant pays on time or not.

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Do landlords have to accept DSS tenants?

Ordinarily, while it is unlawful to impose blanket bans on advertising ‘no DSS’ listings on property websites, it doesn’t mean you have to accept DSS tenants. It means it is best practice to consider each tenant’s case individually and not discriminate against a potential tenant purely because they receive housing benefits. When it comes down to it, if you are renting your property yourself or through an agent, it is your choice if you want to refuse DSS (universal credit) tenants.

If, however, you are renting your house to the council, you will likely have little say over which council tenants are selected to stay in your home. Council tenants have strong rights within secure and assured tenancies, and can usually only be evicted before the end of their term if you can provide a strong legal reason for an eviction in court.

What Are Council Guaranteed Rent Schemes?

A council guaranteed rent scheme is a way landlords can let out their property to receive guaranteed rental income and mitigate their property management responsibilities. Local councils run housing schemes that can extend for years. During this time, the councils provide landlords with guaranteed rental income and take responsibility for any maintenance and repair work required at the property.

Landlords who use guaranteed rent specialists reap a steady rental income every payment period, regardless of management work or void periods. Compare this with landlords who use traditional letting agents to rent out their properties and often lose money through hefty management fees, high maintenance costs, and potential void periods. For more information on other schemes for guaranteed rent (such as through a property management company or by partnering with a business), check out our guaranteed rent article.

Types of council tenancies

If you are renting your house to the council, tenants may fit into one of these agreement categories:

1. Introductory Tenancies

New council tenants will have a ‘trial period’ for the first 12 months of their tenancy. Any conduct such as rent avoidance, hate crimes or antisocial behaviours will break the tenancy conditions. If the tenant was a council tenant in a previous property and has since moved, they do not have to go through this introductory phase again.  

2. Secure Tenancies

Tenants enter a secure tenancy once they pass the first introductory year with no problems. Secure tenants can live in the property for the rest of their life if they keep in line with the conditions of the tenancy agreement. If tenants want to sublet their rooms, they must still seek permission from the council.

3. Flexible Tenancies

Flexible tenants have a fixed period tenancy, usually of around 2 to 5 years. Once the fixed period ends, the council can offer the tenant another fixed-term agreement or a secure tenancy. They also have the option not to renew your tenancy at all.

4. Joint Tenancies

If tenants want to share the tenancy with a partner or spouse, they can apply for a joint tenancy through council housing services. The council generally only accepts these tenancies if there are no rent arrears and no broken conditions of the agreement. The additional person must also have lived at the property for at least one year.

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Benefits of Renting to Council Tenants

There are several benefits of renting your house to the council, including:

1. Guaranteed rent – Enjoy fixed rental income every month regardless of void periods. While some council tenants could pose a higher risk of rent arrears, a guaranteed rent scheme ensures a landlord still receives their rental income (the council, rather than the tenant, will pay your rent directly to you).  

2. Maintenance and repair work are taken care of – Enjoy more time and less stress as the council organises all maintenance and repair jobs.

3. Council-backed service – A trustworthy, governmental management service takes care of your property.

4. Save time – No time spent dealing with viewings or communicating with tenants.

Disadvantages of Renting to Council Tenants

Along with the benefits, there are also some disadvantages of renting to council tenants, including:

1. High tenant turnover – Since Council Guaranteed Rent Scheme are frequently part of emergency or relief housing programs, there tend to be many tenants moving through the properties every year (as opposed to one tenant who stays more long-term.) The higher flow of tenants in and out of your property will likely lead to wear-and-tear or property damage over time. As a result, you may be left out-of-pocket paying for a refurbishment once the council agreement ends.

2. Increased risk of anti-social behaviour – The increased risk of anti-social behaviour with council tenancies are sometimes associated with higher neighbourhood complaints. There are, however, a range of ways the council and neighbours can deal with anti-social behaviour .

3. No control or say in tenant selection – When renting your property out through the council, you have no say in which tenants stay in your place. The tenants could be part of a homeless shelter scheme or just a regular scheme for families needing housing .

4. Poor maintenance management – In theory, the council operating as your property manager sounds professional and dependable. However, problems still arise. In the past, councils have been shown to neglect their management responsibilities. For instance, in 2022, regulators found that Greenwich Council failed to carry out fire safety inspections in hundreds of homes, putting both tenants and landlords at risk.

5. Often below market rental value – Since tenants in council housing can usually benefit from sub-market rent, your property may be offered slightly below the market rental value.

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Should I Rent My House to the Council?

Just like anyone, council tenants can be excellent renters who live comfortably in your home and treat it with respect. However, the lack of say in choosing your tenants (a disadvantage in any type of renting scenario) brings inherent risks.  

If you want to learn how to rent your house to the council, get in touch with your local council. However, there’s always a better solution. At Flex Living, our property management team provides the best of both worlds. You can receive guaranteed rent while avoiding the disadvantages listed in this article. Our corporate let model means we rent out your property to professional, trustworthy tenants who are vetted by their employers. Like the councils, we provide on-going maintenance support at no extra cost, so you can sit back and relax while making the most out of your rental property.

Check out the following articles for more useful information on tenants:

  • How to Find Tenants
  • Tenant Referencing
  • Failed Tenant Reference Check
  • Tenancy Agreements for Landlords  
  • Can I increase Tenant Rent 

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Let to the Council for Guaranteed Rent! We are London’s Guaranteed Rent Specialists!

With Central Housing Group your property will be let to the Council for guaranteed rent giving you a guaranteed monthly rental income for up to 5 years. Quite simply, leasing to a council is the most reliable way to let your property!

If you have a property that you would like to rent to the Council, choose Central Housing Group to manage your property and you will enjoy all the benefits of our Guaranteed Rent Scheme:-

  • No loss of rental income. Just guaranteed fixed monthly rent for up to 5 years;
  • No costly void periods – your rent is paid even when your property is unoccupied;
  • A smooth, straightforward and reliable full letting and management service;
  • No hidden costs;
  • No more hours lost dealing with viewings and lettings;
  • Properties let within 1 week;
  • A dedicated property management team on hand to deal with any maintenance or tenant issues on a day-to-day basis;
  • A full maintenance and repairs service;
  • Regular property inspections;
  • No risk of tenant rent arrears;
  • No risk of legal eviction costs;
  • Protection against tenant damage;
  • Prompt electronic monthly payment of your rent;
  • Your property returned in its original condition (*subject to fair wear and tear);
  • Guaranteed vacant possession of your property on handback.

We are a trusted, well-established and award-winning residential letting and management Agency that has been successfully acquiring and managing private rented accommodation since 2000. We are members of the Government’s ‘National Approved Lettings Scheme’ (NALS),  the ‘Ombudsman Services’ scheme, the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).

We are regarded as a professional letting services team that give our clients — landlords and local authority housing departments — a friendly, reliable, high-quality residential letting and management service.

We are also a long established, approved supplier that has been working in contractual partnership with many local authorities across London for several years.

Our vision is to be the market leader in the provision of high quality temporary accommodation, whilst providing best value at all times.

We rent to the council in these London areas:-

  • Barking & Dagenham
  • Hammersmith & Fulham
  • Haringey Council
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • Waltham Forest
  • City of Westminster

We let properties in these London Council areas:

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How to Rent Your Property to the Council 

  • How to Rent Your Property…

How to Rent Your Property to the Council 

If you own a property in the UK and are interested in renting it out to the council, there are certain things you need to know. In this article, we will cover all the important points you need to consider when renting your property to the council. From understanding the council housing scheme to eligibility criteria, applying for rental, selecting tenants, managing your property, and tax implications; we will cover it all. So, let’s dive in.

Understanding the Council Housing Scheme in the UK

The council housing scheme in the UK is a program where local authorities provide and manage affordable social housing to people who are in need. The scheme is designed to help those who cannot afford to rent or buy a home in the private sector. To meet this demand, local councils seek private landlords who are willing to rent their properties to council tenants.

There are eligibility criteria that must be met in order to qualify for council housing. These criteria vary depending on the local council, but generally include factors such as income, residency status, and housing need. Once a person is deemed eligible, they are placed on a waiting list until a suitable property becomes available. The waiting time can vary greatly depending on the demand for housing in the area.

Benefits of Renting Your Property to the Council

One of the main benefits of renting your property to the council is the steady stream of rental income. This can help you supplement your income and can be a good investment in the long run. Additionally, there are usually fewer void periods when renting to the council as they have a high demand for housing. You will also have a guaranteed rental income as the council is responsible for paying the rent, rather than the individual tenants.

Another benefit of renting your property to the council is that they often provide support and assistance with property maintenance and repairs. This can save you time and money, as you won’t have to worry about finding and paying for contractors to fix any issues that arise. Additionally, renting to the council can provide a sense of security as they are a reliable and stable tenant, with a long-term commitment to the property. This can give you peace of mind knowing that your property is being well-maintained and taken care of.

Eligibility Criteria for Renting Your Property to the Council

Criteria for Renting Your Property

To rent your property to the council, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria. Firstly, you must have a property that meets the council’s standards for housing. The property must also be located within the council’s jurisdiction, and the landlord must be registered with a local council. Lastly, the landlord must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Additionally, the council may require the landlord to provide evidence of their financial stability and ability to manage the property. This may include proof of income, credit checks, and references from previous tenants or landlords. The council may also conduct inspections of the property to ensure that it meets their standards and is safe for tenants to live in. It is important for landlords to carefully review the eligibility criteria and requirements set forth by the council before deciding to rent their property to them.

How to Apply for Renting Your Property to the Council

To apply for renting your property to the council, you need to contact your local council and express your interest. They will usually have a dedicated team or department that handles council housing. You will be required to provide information about your property, such as size, location, and condition, as well as any relevant certificates or documents.

It is important to note that the council will conduct an inspection of your property to ensure that it meets their standards for safety and habitability. This may include checking for working smoke detectors, proper ventilation, and adequate heating. If your property does not meet these standards, you may be required to make necessary repairs or improvements before the council will consider renting it.

Factors to Consider Before Renting Your Property to the Council

Before renting your property to the council, there are several factors you need to consider. Firstly, you need to ensure that your property meets the council’s standards for housing. You also need to think about the type of council tenant you want to rent to, such as families or individuals. The location of your property is also important as the council may have certain requirements in terms of the amenities and facilities nearby. Lastly, you need to consider the rental income and any associated costs such as maintenance and repairs.

Another important factor to consider before renting your property to the council is the length of the tenancy agreement. Council tenancies can vary in length, from short-term agreements to long-term leases. It’s important to consider your own plans for the property and whether a long-term lease would be beneficial or not. Additionally, you should also be aware of the council’s policies on rent increases and how they may affect your rental income over time. Taking all of these factors into account can help you make an informed decision about whether renting your property to the council is the right choice for you.

Finding and Selecting the Right Tenants for Your Council Property

When renting your property to the council, it is important to find and select the right tenants. The council will usually take care of the screening process, such as credit checks and references. However, as a landlord, you can also provide input and request certain preferences such as non-smokers or no pets.

Managing Your Council Property: Rights and Responsibilities

Managing Your Council Property

As a landlord renting your property to the council, you have certain rights and responsibilities. These include providing a safe and comfortable living environment for your tenants, maintaining the property, and complying with all relevant regulations and laws. Additionally, you have the right to enter the property to carry out repairs, but you must give your tenants reasonable notice.

Maintenance and Repairs: Who is Responsible?

In terms of maintenance and repairs, the responsibility lies with both the landlord and the council. The council is responsible for repairs to the external areas and communal areas of the building, while the landlord is responsible for repairs and maintenance inside the property. Any repairs required due to tenant damage or misuse are the responsibility of the tenant.

Rental Income and Taxation: What You Need to Know

When renting your property to the council, you will receive rental income which is taxable. You will need to declare this income on your tax return and pay any applicable taxes. You may also be able to claim tax deductions for expenses such as repairs, insurance, and maintenance costs.

Dealing with Vacancies and Non-Payment of Rent

In the event of a vacancy or non-payment of rent, it is important to have a contingency plan. The council may offer certain guarantees or support in these situations, but as a landlord, it is always recommended to have a buffer fund or insurance policy in place to cover unexpected costs or periods of vacancy.

Exit Strategies: Ending Your Tenancy Agreement with the Council

If you wish to end your tenancy agreement with the council, there are certain procedures you must follow. You must provide the council with written notice, usually 28 days in advance, and ensure that the property is returned in the same condition as when it was rented out. It is also recommended to maintain good communication with the council and your tenants throughout the process.

Overall, renting your property to the council can be a good investment opportunity, but it also requires careful consideration and planning. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure a smooth and successful rental experience.

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Renting your property to a refugee family is one of the most significant ways in which you can help a family start a new life here in the UK.

Here at Reset, we can support landlords to rent to refugees through two schemes: Community Sponsorship and Homes for Ukraine .

We spoke to Jo, a landlord in London, who rented her property to a refugee family through Community Sponsorship. Here she tells us why she would encourage other landlords to do the same and answers some of your key questions:

When my property in London became available, I knew that I wanted to find a way to let it to a refugee family. And I can say now that this was the best decision I could have made. It’s been such a simple way to make a transformational difference to the life of a refugee family.

Letting your property to refugees really is a win-win – you get your regular rental payments and a refugee family gets a home. On top of this, the community is enriched by the refugee family’s presence. You benefit, the family benefits, and the community benefits. I can’t recommend it enough.

There are two main ways that you can rent your home to newly arrived refugees. You can offer your property to a Community Sponsorship group or you can offer it to your council (if they are participating in a resettlement scheme). Either way, you’ll be providing a home to vulnerable refugees. The only difference is that refugees resettled through Community Sponsorship receive their main support from local people rather than the Local Authority. To find out how to rent your home to refugees through Community Sponsorship, get in touch with Reset .

As a landlord, I know that you probably have lots of questions that you need answered before you’ll feel confident about letting your property to newly-arrived refugees. In this blog, I’ve answered some of the biggest questions that I had when I first began to consider letting my property to refugees.

“Letting your property to refugees really is a win-win – you get your regular rental payments and a refugee family gets a home.”

When I first suggested to my husband that we rent our property to a refugee family, he thought I was giving it away and we wouldn’t get any money. I assured him that refugees are entitled to apply for Universal Credit and so we would get our regular rental payments. We haven’t had any difficulties in securing rental payments. It’s even possible to receive payments directly from the Government!

The amount of Universal Credit that a household can receive for housing costs is calculated using the Local Housing Allowance. You can check online what the Local Housing Allowance will be for your property. This will probably be less than the market rate so you may make less money than you have been, but you’ll also get the privilege of knowing that you’re making a real difference to the lives of people who had lost everything. Plus you won’t need to go through an agency so you’ll save the agency fees (often around 10% of monthly rent).

All of the refugee families resettled in the UK have had their refugee status determined by the UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR. In fact, the UK only resettles those refugees that the UN considers to be most vulnerable. You can read more about how refugees are selected for resettlement here .

You may be asked to make some changes to your property because you’ll be renting to vulnerable tenants. For example, we had to install two fire doors and upgrade the fire detectors.

But this wasn’t a problem as we discovered that we were able to cover all of this (and more!) using an incentive payment offered to us by the council. I’d definitely recommend finding out what incentive payments could be available to you in your Local Authority area if you decide to offer your property to refugees. In some cases, additional funding is available to make changes to a property for those with mobility needs and to improve accessibility.

I’ve found that when people actually meet each other, any bitterness just disappears. It’s much easier to hold a negative opinion about people you’ve never met than about your neighbours. In my experience, the community have been really supportive.

You can feel confident that there won’t be any major issues because the police will be consulted on whether your property is in a suitable location for a refugee family. If they have significant concerns about how the community will react, then they will not approve your property.

If you rent your property to refugees through the Community Sponsorship scheme, there will be a whole group of local people dedicated to supporting the refugees living in your property. They will support the family to apply for benefits, learn English, manage their finances and get to know the local area.

To rent your property to refugees through Community Sponsorship, register as a potential landlord . A member of Reset’s staff team will get in touch to talk to you about your options. If you want to chat to Reset before renting your property, they are more than happy to talk to anyone who is considering providing their property to refugee tenants. Just get in touch! Letting my property to refugees has been a simple way to make a massive difference to the life of a family that has lost everything. You can make a difference too.

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Home » Blog » Selling Advice » Can I Sell My House To The Council And Rent It Back?

Can I Sell My House To The Council And Rent It Back?

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Rent vs buy. It’s a tough debate that has been around for quite some time. There are many advantages to renting a home instead of buying one. Renting provides greater flexibility, as leases are usually shorter-term commitments compared to the long-term financial commitment of buying a property. This allows you to easily relocate for job opportunities or personal reasons without the burden of selling a property. When you rent, the landlord is responsible for major maintenance and repairs, reducing the financial burden and hassle of dealing with unexpected expenses related to the property’s upkeep. More than that, though, renters are not exposed to the risks associated with fluctuations in property prices or interest rates. Think it sounds like a great deal? If you’re already a homeowner, you may begin to wonder how you can sell it back to the council and then rent it once more so you get the benefits of being a tenant. Do Councils buy back ex-council houses or any house at all? This guide will help you answer all of your questions about ex-council houses for sale and council buyback schemes from which you may benefit.

It Is Possible To Sell Your House To The Council, But . . .

Selling your house or flat to the council is not a simple process unless it falls under the Right to Buy scheme. Local authorities rarely purchase individual properties from the general public. Instead, they tend to focus on constructing their housing developments and acquiring properties in bulk from private developers or local portfolio owners. As a result, they may not show interest in buying a single property.

However, It’s Not Entirely Impossible To Explore This Option.

The potential for selling your property to the council depends on factors like its location, size, rental demand, and the council’s internal policies and budgetary constraints. Due to financial limitations, some councils might not have the resources to buy properties even if they are interested.

It’s essential to be aware that council buyback prices are likely to be lower than the fair market value. Additionally, the process may involve various hurdles and may not be as swift as selling to private cash buyers, as the council might have specific periods for spending funds. You may notice that the sale of council houses isn’t as robust as the private market, and part of that has to do with how councils work.

On the positive side, selling directly to the council means you won’t have to pay estate agency fees. However, you will be responsible for covering your legal expenses and disbursements. Moreover, the council will conduct a professional RICS survey as part of the process.

One good way to see if the council will buy your house, though, is if you have a “Right to Buy” house. In these situations, you’re more likely to sell it back to them because they have the first right of refusal. They don’t have any obligation to buy it back, though. It’s also important to note that there are some pretty specific rules surrounding how long you’ve owned the property. If you bought it in the last five years, you have to pay back the discount you got when you bought it. If you bought it less than a year ago, you’ll have to repay the full discount. If you bought it less than two years ago, you have to repay 80% of that discounted amount. If you bought it less than three years ago, you’ll need to repay 60% of the discounted amount. If you bought it less than four years ago, that number sinks to 40%. If you’ve owned the property for at least five years, you only have to pay back 20% of the discounted amount.

You may ask, “How much is my council house worth?” if you have owned it for less than five years. Selling your council house after five years . . .

Selling your home back to the council is so complex because councils often have limited budgets allocated for property acquisitions. They may prioritise purpose-built housing or bulk purchases from private developers or portfolio owners over individual property acquisitions. This budget constraint can make it difficult for them to consider purchasing single properties from the general public. Additionally, councils typically have specific criteria and priorities for acquiring properties. They may focus on areas with high demand for social housing or locations that align with their regeneration plans. If the property does not meet their criteria, they may not be interested in purchasing it. Keep in mind, too, that local councils are more inclined to invest in new developments that fit their long-term housing strategy rather than acquiring existing properties. They often seek opportunities to create affordable housing through their development projects, and that may not include your home.

Renting Your House To A Local Council

If you’re looking to unload your property, but the council won’t buy it, you may be wondering, “Do councils rent private houses?” Renting a house from the local council is possible, even if you don’t want to or can’t sell it to them. Do councils rent private houses? Yes! Local councils in the UK can pay to rent houses for various purposes. Renting houses is a common practice for local authorities to provide temporary or long-term accommodation for individuals or families in need of housing support. This may include people on low incomes, those experiencing homelessness, or those facing difficult circumstances. Local councils often engage in social housing initiatives, where they rent properties from private landlords or housing associations to provide affordable homes for those in need. These rental arrangements are usually governed by specific agreements and tenancy terms, which may include regulations on rental amounts, property maintenance, and tenant responsibilities. In some cases, councils may also utilise private rental properties to accommodate individuals or families on their housing waiting lists while they seek more permanent solutions or await the availability of council-owned or social housing options.

Renting houses allows local councils to offer housing solutions to a broader range of people without the need for immediate property ownership, providing flexibility and access to housing for those who might otherwise struggle to secure suitable accommodation.

Many people ask, “How much will the council pay to rent my house?” The answer, though, is variable. It depends on how well the home you own meets the council’s needs and priorities.

How Do You Rent A House From The Local Council?

You can rent a house from the council if you meet certain eligibility criteria and qualify for social housing support. Local councils offer social or council housing to individuals and families who need affordable accommodation. Renting a house from the local council can be a viable option for those with low incomes, facing homelessness, or experiencing challenging living conditions.

To be eligible for social housing through the local council, you generally need to meet specific criteria, which can vary depending on the council’s policies and the demand for housing in the area. Common eligibility factors include:

  • Residency: You must be a legal resident of the UK to qualify for social housing.
  • Income: Typically, you need to have a low income to be eligible for social housing. The specific income thresholds may vary between councils.
  • Priority Need: Some individuals or families may receive priority for social housing if they are homeless, have specific medical needs, or are facing other urgent housing issues. For example, if your landlord is selling the house you live in, they may be able to help. If you’re trying to figure out how to get the council to move you quicker, it might help to review the criteria to figure out how that may happen. Learning how to get a council house quicker isn’t always an easy process. It starts with contacting the council itself.
  • Local Connection: Some councils give priority to applicants with a local connection to the area, such as living or working in the locality.
  • Immigration Status: Your immigration status can affect your eligibility for social housing, and you may need to have the right to reside in the UK.

If you meet the necessary criteria, you can apply to your local council for social housing. The council will assess your application and determine your priority level based on your circumstances and needs. Keep in mind that the demand for social housing can be high in some areas, and waiting lists for available properties may vary in length.

Once your application is approved, you will be placed on the council’s housing waiting list, and when a suitable property becomes available, you may be offered a tenancy agreement to rent a house from the local council.

Buying Your Council House

It may also be that you’re not looking to sell your home at all. Instead, if you want to rent to buy a council house, that, too, is possible. You’ll need to look into the various programmes that are available to buy council houses near you and talk to your local council to see if they have anything for sale.

Many people ask, “Can I buy my council house for cash?” Typically you can buy your council house for cash or use a mortgage to obtain the home as long as the council decides to sell to you.

You can often get a really good deal on ex-council houses, even if you haven’t lived in one. You just have to use search terms like “ex-council houses for sale near me” to learn more.

The Bottom Line On Council Houses

Whether you’re looking to sell your council house back to the council, rent it to them, rent from them, or buy a council house, there are lots of options, but all of them begin by talking to your local council office to learn more.

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Rent your property to the Council

You can use the following schemes to rent properties through Redbridge Council if you are a private landlord, property owner or property agent:

  • Private Sector Leasing scheme – we will lease your property through a lettings agent to rent to tenants
  • Private Rented Sector scheme – we will find you tenants for your property

The schemes help Redbridge residents living in Council temporary accommodation move into affordable housing.

Your property can be in Redbridge or outside of the borough.

Why rent your property to us

Rent your property to us through one of our schemes and we will:

  • guarantee you regular rent payments
  • find tenants through our tenant finder and reference service
  • help you manage the tenancy by giving you support and advice
  • run inspections to make sure your property keeps meeting standards

You do not have to pay any fees to rent your property to us.

About the cash incentive

You could get a cash incentive for joining one of our schemes.

You will need to agree to the following contract commitment:

  • a minimum 3 year lease without a break clause if joining the Private Sector Leasing scheme
  • a minimum 12 month Assured Shorthold Tenancy if joining the Private Rented Sector scheme

You must also do the following if you join either scheme:

  • set the rent at the Local Housing Allowance rate. Check the Local Housing Allowance rates (link opens in new window) .
  •  provide relevant documentation for the property including health and safety certificates
  • have the appropriate property licence

How the Private Sector Leasing scheme works

We will lease your property for 3 to 5 years through a lettings agent under the Private Sector Leasing scheme.

You will get:

  • guaranteed monthly rent for the length of the lease
  • a 3 to 5 year lease
  • no costs to pay if there are no tenants (void costs)
  • property management through one of our approved agents
  • quarterly inspections

Find out more about the Private Sector Leasing scheme from the Private Lettings team by:

  • emailing the team  
  • calling 020 8708 4474

How the Private Rented Sector scheme works

We will find you tenants who can rent your property for at least 12 months under the Private Rented Sector scheme.

We will only put forward tenants who can pay the rent on time and look after your property.

  • rent paid directly to you – this will be 100% of the Local Housing Allowance rate
  • one month’s rent paid in advance
  • either a cash deposit or a bond agreement equal to one month’s rent
  • a specialist Housing Officer (Lettings Negotiator) to give you advice about the lettings scheme and managing the tenancy

Find out more about the Private Rented Sector scheme.

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Schemes to help council tenants buy a home

Your council or housing association may offer a grant or loan to help you buy a home on the open market in return for giving up your tenancy.

Schemes have different names, such as:

home purchase grants

home purchase schemes

cash incentive grants or schemes

If the cash incentive payment is a loan, you must repay it when you sell your home. It is registered as a charge on the home you buy.

Schemes are often aimed at tenants who are downsizing. This means giving up a home that is larger than you need.

Who can apply?

The schemes are aimed at secure council tenants or assured housing association tenants who:

can afford mortgage repayments

cannot afford to buy without help from the scheme

You are unlikely to qualify if you owe council tax, rent or overpaid housing benefit.

Your landlord may have a waiting list if grant money for the year has been given out.

How to apply

Check your council's website for details of these schemes.

Schemes are more common in areas where there is high demand for council and housing association homes.

How payment is made

Your landlord arranges for the money to be paid to your solicitor when you are buying a house.

The money is paid by the date you complete the purchase of your new home. 

This means that you cannot use the money as a deposit on your home. 

Your landlord usually only pays the money if:

everyone has moved out of your rented home

your rented home is left in good condition

Homes you can buy

Cash incentive schemes allow you to buy most types of houses or flats on the open market. 

You can buy a freehold or leasehold property.

Some schemes allow you to use the money to buy a shared ownership home .

The schemes will not allow you to buy:

a home in poor condition

a mobile home or houseboat

a leasehold home without much time left on the lease

Right to buy

Right to buy and right to acquire are different schemes that offer council and housing association tenants a discount if you want to buy the home you live in.

Get financial help and advice

Always get independent financial advice before you decide to buy a home.

Grants if you cannot afford to buy a home

Some councils and housing associations offer grants for tenants who agree to downsize to smaller council or housing association homes.

They can also offer financial help with moving costs. 

Last updated: 18 July 2022

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Getting a council home

You can apply for a home through your local council. They might also call it ‘social housing’.

If your application is accepted, you’ll go on to a waiting list of people who need a council home. Your council will then prioritise applications based on who needs a home most urgently. The council’s allocations scheme will give details of who gets priority for homes in the area.

Even if you get on the waiting list there’s no guarantee you’ll get a home.

You could be offered a home owned by your local council or housing association.

You might have to apply to some housing associations directly instead of through the council - ask your council if there are any near you.

If your council has a long waiting list, they might ask if you want to apply for homes in other areas as well. You can be on several waiting lists at the same time and this might increase your chances of getting a home.

If you have nowhere to stay tonight

Your council might have a legal duty to help you find accommodation. Find out more about homeless help .

Check if you can apply for a council home

Your local council will have its own rules on who can apply and who has priority for homes - this is called an ‘allocation scheme’.  Check your council’s website  on GOV.UK to find out how it works in your area.

You’ll probably need to:

  • be on a low income or not have a large amount of savings
  • have lived in the area for a number of years, or have a job or family there - this is called a ‘local connection’

Not all councils need you to have a local connection. If you’re thinking about moving to a different area, it’s worth checking the council’s website to see if you can apply.

You also might be able to apply if you’ve lived in an area before.

You’ll also need to show you’re ‘eligible’ for council housing.

To check if you’re eligible, start by checking if your immigration status lets you apply for a council home.

If you’ve moved or returned to the UK in the last 2 years, you usually also have to show you’re ‘habitually resident’. You have to do this even if you’re a British citizen.

Your immigration status lets you apply for a council home if you:

  • are a British or Irish citizen
  • have settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme
  • have indefinite leave to remain - unless someone had to sign a ‘maintenance undertaking’ that says they’ll support you financially
  • have refugee status or humanitarian protection
  • have right of abode
  • have leave to remain in the UK as a ‘stateless person’

If you have pre-settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme, you can only apply for council housing if you have a ‘right to reside’.

If you’ve applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and you’re waiting for a decision, you can only apply for council housing if you have a right to reside.

Check if you have a right to reside .

If you’re from Ukraine

You're allowed to apply for council housing if all of the following are true:

  • you were living in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022
  • you left Ukraine because of the invasion
  • it doesn’t say ‘no public funds’ or ‘no recourse to public funds’ on your immigration documents

You don't have to show you're habitually resident.

If you’ve come from Afghanistan

In some situations you’re allowed to apply for council housing - and you don’t have to show you’re habitually resident.

You’re allowed to apply if you came to the UK through one of these schemes at any time:

  • the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
  • the Afghanistan Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme (ALES)
  • the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)

You're also allowed to apply if all of the following are true:

  • you came to the UK from Afghanistan because of the fall of the government on 15 August 2021
  • you’ve been given ‘leave to remain’
  • it doesn’t say ‘no public funds’ on your immigration papers

Talk to an adviser if you have a sponsor, or if you’re not sure about your immigration status.

Your local council might ask you to prove your immigration status. You’ll need to show one of the following:

  • a document showing you have come to the UK through one of the schemes
  • a stamp or visa in your passport
  • a letter from the Home Office that shows when you arrived and why

Before you try to get a council home, talk to an adviser .

If you’re from Sudan

You’re allowed to apply for council housing if all of the following are true:

  • you were living in Sudan immediately before 15 April 2023
  • you left Sudan because of the violence there

If you've come from Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Golan Heights or Lebanon

  • you were living in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, or Lebanon immediately before 7th October 2023
  • you left these areas because of the attack in Israel by Hamas on 7th October 2023 or the violence following this attack
  • you've been given 'leave to remain'
  • it doesn't say 'no public funds' or 'no recourse to public funds' on your immigration documents

You can’t apply for council housing if:

  • you don’t have a right to be in the UK
  • you’re in the UK as a visitor
  • you’re seeking asylum
  • it says ‘no public funds’ or ‘no recourse to public funds’ on your immigration documents

Check if you’re habitually resident

You’re habitually resident if you can show that the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man is your main home. 

You’ll only have to show you’re habitually resident if you’ve moved or returned to the UK in the last 2 years.

Check if you’re habitually resident .

If you have pre-settled status or you’re waiting for a decision from the EU Settlement Scheme

You don’t need to show you’re habitually resident if you have a right to reside because:

  • you’re a worker - this includes if you’ve retained worker status
  • you’re a self-employed person - this includes if you’ve retained self-employed status
  • you’re the family member of a worker or self-employed person
  • you’ve retired - or you’re the family member of someone who retired
  • you can’t work any more because of illness or an accident - or you’re the family member of someone in that position

You still have to show you’re habitually resident if you have another type of right to reside, for example a permanent right to reside based on 5 years in the UK.

If you’re not sure which right to reside you have, you can check the rules about the right to reside for housing .

Find out if you’re a priority for a home

You’re more likely to get a council home if you’ve been given priority by your council's allocation scheme.

This could be if you’re:

  • legally homeless or the council has a duty to find you accommodation if you’re homeless - check what help the council should give you
  • moving because of a disability or serious, long-term health condition
  • moving to a different area because of ‘hardship' - this could be to get medical treatment, because you’re in danger or to take up a new job
  • in a home that’s overcrowded or in poor condition

It’s likely to take you a long time to get an offer - even if you get priority in your area. In areas with long waiting lists, you might not be offered a home at all.

It might be best to look for a home yourself or stay where you are - if you’re struggling with money, check if you can get help with your rent . You can also look at renting from a private landlord .

If you think you haven’t been given enough priority, you can ask your council to review their decision . Check your council's allocation scheme to see who's given priority in your area.

Applying for a council home

You’ll probably need to apply online - check which council you need to apply to on GOV.UK.

If the council accepts your application, it doesn’t mean you’ll get a home straight away. You’ll go on a waiting list and it could still take a long time.

If you’re applying directly to a housing association the rules might be different - check their process on their website.

Filling in the application

Give as much detail as you can in your application. You might be asked to give extra evidence to support your application - like medical notes if you have a health condition.

Your council will use the information you give them to decide if you’re eligible to join the waiting list. If your application’s accepted, they’ll then use it to decide if you get priority and what size home you should get.

You might need to give details of:

  • your income, including from your job or benefits
  • any long-term health conditions or disabilities you have
  • your job history
  • your savings and any assets you have - this is an item that’s worth a lot of money, for example a car
  • where you’ve lived for the last few years and why you left
  • any visas or immigration documents (like a passport), if you’re not from the UK

If you need help with your application

You’ll need to answer a lot of questions in the application form and it could take more than an hour to complete. Talk to your local council if you need help.

You might be able to get a family member or carer to help with your application too.

Getting your decision

If your application is accepted, your council will put you in a group or ‘band’ that reflects your level of priority.

If they think you need a home urgently, you’ll usually be given a high priority.

You could still have a long wait for a home even if you have high priority. Ask your local council to find out how long the wait is in your area.

Your council decides your level of priority using the criteria in their allocations scheme.

If you don’t think they’ve given you the right level of priority under their scheme, you can ask them to review it . Check your council’s allocation scheme before you ask for a review.

If your application is refused

Ask the council to review their decision .

You can also look at renting from a private landlord or getting help with your rent .

If your situation changes

If your situation changes, tell your council as soon as possible - it might change your position on the waiting list.

This could mean you’ll get a home more quickly, but it also could move you down the list.

If you don't tell the council about changes that affect your level of priority, you could be accused of lying on your application. This could mean you'd be evicted from any home you get.

You should let your council know if you:

  • become pregnant or have another child
  • develop a new medical condition or your medical needs change
  • have a change in income - this could be if your benefits stop or your salary changes
  • are being harassed where you live
  • move house or have other new contact details

Check if you can bid for a home

Ask your council if you have to bid for homes or if they’ll pick one for you.

If they choose one for you, they could offer it by phone. They'll usually follow it up with a letter.

Bidding for a home

Your local council might have an online system where you can look for a home.

If you like a home and it’s suitable for you, you can let the council know you’re interested by applying for it online - this is called ‘bidding’. Your council will tell you how their bidding system works.

The homes will all have a closing date, so make sure you bid before then.

If you’ve bid for a home, it doesn’t mean you’ll get it.

Your council will tell you how often you can bid for homes. They might also set a limit on how many homes you can bid for.

Once the bidding period has closed, your council will look at your level of priority and usually how long you’ve been waiting.

The council will usually offer the home to the person who has the highest level of priority in their scheme.

You might be able to refuse a council home if you don't think it's suitable for your needs, but it’s important to check - some councils might remove you from their waiting list. Find out more about refusing an unsuitable home .

If you’re offered a council home

Your council will tell you how long you have to accept or reject an offer - you’ll usually only have a short time before your council offers it to someone else.

If you decide to accept a home, your council will arrange a time for you to sign the contract.

You could be offered a long-term tenancy or a fixed-term contract for a year or more.

Your council will tell you when you can move in and when you have to pay rent.

Please tell us more about why our advice didn't help.

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Council housing and housing association

Table of Contents

If I give up my council house do I get money?

give your property to council

In this brief guide, we are going to discuss the question “if I give up my council house do I get money”

Yes, you could get money if you give up your council house(secure tenancy) or your housing association house to buy a house on the open market. This is known as the cash incentive scheme. To be able to get any money you must agree to give up your council house or flat which you rent from a council or a housing association. These cash incentive schemes may be named differently by each council or housing association. Older buyers are also given priority for these cash incentive schemes.

The council will give you money if you move onto a privately rented accommodation or buy a house on the open market.

You may be wondering why the council offers you an amount of money to give up your council house, the answer is quite simple. The council are offering you this money to give up your council house because it will cost them the same amount over a year or over 2 years if you remain in the council house.

The money the council gives you to give up your council house could be used as a mortgage deposit and could be very helpful to allow you to buy a new home.

You should be aware that due to the popularity of cash incentive schemes you may have to get on a waiting list as soon as possible as the grant money allocated for the scheme may have already been spent by your landlord on other tenants.

give your property to council

Homes you can buy with the cash incentive scheme

You will typically be able to buy most homes or flats on the open market regardless of leasehold or freehold.

You may also be able to use the cash incentive scheme in line with a shared ownership scheme but you won’t be able to use it with a right to buy scheme or a right to acquire scheme.

You will usually not be able to use the scheme to buy:

A mobile home

A houseboat

A home in bad condition

A leasehold home with little time left on the lease

give your property to council

How much can you get if you give up your council house?

As mentioned above you can get some money if you give up your council or housing association house or flat and move to one on the open market.

The amount of money you can get from your council house will depend on where you want o move to and the size of the property you are giving up. The bigger the property, the bigger the cash incentive.

Some cash incentive schemes will offer you between £20,000 to £50,000 but you can get as much as £80,000 to help you buy an open market home.  The schemes will also offer you some money towards your rent if you intend on renting an open market home.

The amount you can get in rent will depend on the factors above too.

Once you have completed the purchase of a home or before completion your landlord will arrange for the cash incentive funds to be paid to your solicitor.

In most cases, the money is paid after you have completed the purchase of your home which means you can’t use it towards your mortgage deposit and the mortgage lender may not consider it when giving you a mortgage offer .

Your landlord will also set a few criteria on when the money will be paid and will only usually pay the money if:

The home you were previously occupying was left in a suitable condition

There is no one still, occupying the home you previously occupied.

give your property to council

How do the council house cash incentive schemes work?

A council house or housing association cash incentive scheme is when your landlord offers you money to give up your council house or flat and rent or buy an open market house or flat.

The money your landlord offers you is intended to help you buy an open market house or flat or rent an open market house or flat

In order for you to get any money from the cash incentive scheme being run by your landlord, you will need to agree to give up your council or housing association house or flat. 

As mentioned prior, these cash incentive schemes which are run by councils or housing associations may have different names such as:

Home purchase schemes

Cash incentive schemes

Home purchase grants

Cash incentive grants

An important thing to note is that some of these schemes will offer the cash incentive as a loan which you will be required to pay back when you sell the open market home you are buying. 

This means a charge will be registered by the council or housing association on the home you are buying.  

This may limit your ability to get a remortgage or ability to qualify for any other government schemes such as:

  • Lifetime ISA – gives you a government bonus of £1,000 if you save the maximum £4,000 a year.
  • Help to buy ISA – gives a maximum bonus us £3,000 if you save the maximum allowed of £12,000. Before you get either you should consider which is better. Lifetime ISA vs Help to buy ISA.
  • Help to buy equity loan- gives you up to 40% as a 5-year interest-free equity loan. You begin to pay interest at 1.75 % after the fifth year and 1% plus RPI for every year thereafter.
  • Shared ownership- You can buy between 25% to 75% of the property initially with a shared ownership mortgage and then buy more using a staircasing mortgage.
  • Armed forces help to buy- similar to the help to buy equity loan but specific for the armed forces personnel giving them an increased chance of acceptance.
  • Rent to buy- This is the right to buy scheme on which this guide is currently discussing. A different marketing name is just used. Watch out for this when shopping to avoid missing out on eligible properties due to confusion.
  • Right to buy- allows you to buy your home at a discount price.
  • Preserved right to buy – same as above.
  • Right to acquire- same as above.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to take advantage of home buying schemes provided by your local council. Example: In Norwich, the local councils provide the Norwich home options scheme.

give your property to council

Eligibility for the cash incentive schemes run by councils or housing associations

The cash incentive schemes being run by councils and housing associations are not accessible by everyone. You will need to make an application and then be deemed suitable fora cash incentive scheme. This means there is no guarantee you will get money for giving up your council home. If you do not qualify or if you are rejected for a cash incentive scheme then you may want to consider the government schemes listed above. 

You may also want to consider if the government schemes listed above are more suitable for you based on your eligibility and their structure.

You are more likely to be accepted for a cash incentive scheme to give up your council or housing association flat or house if you are elderly or if you are downsizing to a much smaller home and hence giving up a home which is too big for you.

The cash incentive schemes run by most councils and housing associations typically have the below eligibility requirements:

You will need to have no rent arrears

You must not owe any council tax

You must not already own a property

You will also usually need to be unable to buy a home or rent a home without the cash incentive scheme

You must be able to afford the monthly mortgage repayments and be able to put down a mortgage deposit on the house you want to buy. Although some consideration will be given if the cash incentive you are being offered or likely to be offered will help you cover a mortgage deposit.

You must not have been overpaid housing benefit

You must be a secure council house tenant or an assured housing association tenant

give your property to council

Steps to apply for a cash incentive scheme

To apply fora cash incentive scheme which will give you money if you give up your council house or housing association house or flat you should first contact your landlord and inquire if they run such a scheme. If they do, you should then ask them if there is a waiting list and how you can get on it.

You should finally request their eligibility requirements from them or simply ask them if you are eligible and then ask for an application form. Your landlord may be able to offer you help in filling the form or you can contact the citizen’s advice bureau.

You can also check your council or housing association website for details of such a scheme.

The cash incentive scheme will likely be available in an area where there are lots of demand for council housing.

give your property to council

Independent financial advice

When looking at buying a home you may want to get independent financial advice.

You may want to consider using an independent mortgage broker to get a mortgage.

Mortgage brokers are important as they can access mortgage products from across the whole of the market in some cases. This could be over 11,000 mortgage products. This may have some advantages than going directly to a mortgage lender.

A mortgage broker will look to understand your financial circumstances and then provide recommendations on which mortgage products may be suitable for you.

After giving you these mortgage recommendations, most mortgage brokers will seek your consent to apply for a mortgage in principle. This will allow you to shop for your home easier as more estate agents and sellers may take you seriously or it will give you confidence that your remortgage is indeed a possibility before you make a full mortgage application. Once you have found a home you want to buy or are satisfied with the mortgage offer for your remortgage then the mortgage broker will then look to get you a mortgage offer.

This will come with a key facts illustration document which details out the features of your mortgage including how much you will pay per month if there are any limits such as early repayment fees, or annual overpayment limits.

If you are happy with everything you can then go on to secure your mortgage with the help of a conveyancer. 

Your conveyancer will manage the legal searches on the property to ensure there aren’t any issues with it, they will oversee the sales agreement to ensure it is in your best interest, they will manage the transfer of mortgage funds, exchange contracts with the seller or their conveyancer and set a completion date with the seller or their conveyancer.

Aside from the cash incentive schemes, there are other schemes out there which allow you to move from a council home to open market home. They may offer you smaller grants and even help you with moving costs.

In this brief guide, we discussed the question “ if I give up my council house do I get money “. If you have any questions or comments about this guide please let us know.

If you need financial advice and you live in the UK then you could contact the Money Advice service over the phone or via chat for impartial advice.

You can also contact the debt charity “ Step Change ” if you are in debt and need help.

Related Posts

Which mortgage lenders accept tax credits, can council refuse right to buy, will right to buy come back in scotland.

Sell House Fast

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  • Sell your house in as little as 7 days
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Selling a property always seems to be a frustrating, tedious and difficult task. The whole process poses issues, especially when you are needing to sell your property within a certain time frame. There is no guarantee that traditional methods such as estate agents can find a buyer on the open market within a timescale that suits you.

This already stressful situation can have added pressure applied if the property you are trying to sell is a council house. Within this blog, it will discuss whether you can sell your council property and the procedures that you may need to go through to do so.

Can I sell a council house?

Unfortunately, there is no straight answer to this question. Whether or not you can sell a council house depends on personal factors such as location and situation.

The first thing you need to do is to check with your local council’s housing department or your equivalent to this. Your local authority will be able to give you a better answer as to where your property stands.

Currently, it is no secret that councils up and down the UK are low on housing stock. Many are keen to have people renting. On top of this, there has also been cuts in funding for many councils.

Due to these cuts, it is hard to estimate how much funding each authority is given. Additionally, it therefore means that policies on properties in different authorities may be slightly different.

As well as local authority funding and spending, there are other factors that need to be considered. Your local area and the type of property you own will impact on whether or not you are able to sell.

Certain councils often look for properties with criteria. For example, within the Halifax borough, their may be a shortage of two-bed properties for the population.

The council may not let you sell a property if its four-bed due to this criterion. On the other hand, some local councils may be willing to buy your council property back from you.

How much is my council house worth?

You might be wondering whether your council house is worth less than that house across the street that's very similar, but not ex-council.

The reason you might be thinking this is that when purchasing a council house you get a discount on it's market value, this is the councils Right To Buy scheme.

If you've been a tenant of a public sector property for between 3-5 years then you'll get a 35% discount, and 1% more for every extra year after that 5.

If it's a flat however, you'll be able to get an even larger discount, which is still subject to the same duration, but it's set at 50% and then 2% for every extra year over the 5.

Essentially the answer is no, your council house will be worth it's market value, whatever that is determined to be.

The only exception is that you may have to pay back some of your discount if you sell your home within 5 years of buying it from the council under the Right To Buy scheme.

What is the Right To Buy scheme?

This completely depends. If you've bought an ex council property then you might be able to sell it back to your local council.

Councils have no obligation to buy your home back so it depends as to whether they are actively buying property or not, which is usually subject to how much demand they have for housing in the area.

The only way you can check if your local council are buying ex council houses back is by getting in touch with them directly.

If they are, they will likely get an independent valuation done on your property & provide you with an offer based on this.

What if my local authority will not buy my council house?

There are other ways. There are other processes you can go through. However, some may be lengthy and complicated.

Bare in mind also, that some of the other different solutions to selling your home may not give you the full market value.

Councils in general will struggle to pay you the market value for your property as they simply cannot afford to. Plus, you may still find yourself waiting to sell due to delays as the council will not be able to buy your property quickly.

Can You Sell An Ex Council House Back To The Council?

If the property you are trying to sell is ex-council then you may be subjected to a buyback condition. This means that you must first offer it to the council or housing association before you take it to the open market.

If you are selling your ex-council house within 10 years of purchase through either the Right-To-Buy scheme or Right-To-Acquire scheme then it will be subject to the right of first refusal.

What this means is that you offer it back to the local housing association or housing department before selling it on.

If you decide to sell within the first five years of purchasing the property, then you will be required to repay some or all of the discount that was given to you.

How much will the council pay for my ex-council property?

If you decide to sell the property back to the council, then they will usually pay you market value for it.

However, this depends upon the area that you are situated and whether or not the council buys property.

Should your property require any renovation or repair work in order to make it suitable for letting, then you may get below market value for it.

How to sell your council house fast

Here at The Property Buying Company, we can help you sell your ex council home in a timescale to suit you.

We are an alternative to other traditional selling methods. Over our years of trading, we have helped many customers with council houses sell their property in around two to three weeks.

If you sell your property to us, we will help you at every step of the way and as an added bonus we will cover all legal fees for you.

We will only require one quick viewing to make sure that our cash offer is accurate and as we are a genuine cash buyer, once you have accepted our offer that is the amount that you will get in FULL in your bank!

We are also a member of the National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman, allowing you to feel safe in our hands.

So, if you are ready to sell your ex-council property, give us a call or fill in our online form for a free, no-obligation CASH offer which we could have in your bank as soon as you choose…

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Mathew McCorry

If you read my property blog now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I will make you read it.

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scenic view of the river Lerryn and hills behind in Cornwall

What are the proposals to restrict short-term lets in England?

Ministers hope a registration scheme for holiday lets on sites such as Airbnb will increase the supply of homes for locals

New rules for short-term holiday lets in England were unveiled by the government on Monday, with the aim of reining in a sector that campaigners claim is “ out of control ”.

Amid growing concern about an explosion in the number of properties being let out on a short-term basis, leading to local residents being pushed out of their communities, ministers are proposing to introduce a registration scheme for holiday lets, and will also require them to get planning permission.

However, many campaigners say the planned changes do not go nearly far enough.

So what’s the problem?

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people turning their properties into holiday rentals and short-term lets. A lot of this has been fuelled by the ubiquity of platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com that arguably make it easy to do this as a potentially lucrative and often largely unregulated side hustle .

The coronavirus pandemic then turbo-charged this trend because it triggered a boom in domestic holidays and short breaks – something that has continued during the cost of living crisis.

At the same time a less favourable tax regime for buy-to-let following changes made in 2015 has meant many landlords and investors have left that sector and switched to catering to tourists – particularly in popular destinations such as the Lake District and Cornwall.

The result of all this, said campaign group Generation Rent , was that “families are being driven out of their communities by the disastrous loss of homes into holiday lets, with over 35,000 privately rented homes lost to Airbnb-style short-term lets since 2019”.

Registered holiday lets and second homes have an arguably negligible effect on housing supply across England , accounting for 26,000 properties compared with the 682,000 new homes added to the nation’s housing stock over 2019-22. However, the effect they do have is highly concentrated: 80% of the recent growth in holiday homes has happened in 25 local council areas.

There is also the issue of antisocial behaviour linked to short-term lets, such as fly-tipping, bags of rubbish and noisy parties.

What has the government announced?

It has acknowledged there is a problem. The housing secretary, Michael Gove , said on Monday that in some areas “too many local families and young people feel they are being shut out of the housing market and denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community”.

It has been consulting on this issue and has now announced a shake-up of the rules in England.

There are two main proposals. Planning permission will be required for future short-term lets, which the government argues will give councils more power to “control” them. The proposed changes would create a planning “use class” for short-term lets that are not used as a sole or main home.

Meanwhile, a mandatory national register will be set up to provide local authorities with information on short-term lets in their area and, in theory, enable them to monitor their use, the impact on the local area and whether health and safety rules are being met.

More detailed information will be set out by ministers in the coming months, and the government said the reforms would be introduced “from this summer”.

I sense a ‘but’ …

So yes, while many commentators were happy to see the government taking action, some pointed out omissions or what they argued were sizeable flaws in the shake-up.

The “future short-term lets” aspect of the first proposal is important: the government said existing short-term lets “will automatically be reclassified into the new use class and will not require a planning application”. Generation Rent said that allowing existing holiday lets to automatically gain permission to continue “risks shutting the stable door once the horse has bolted” and would do nothing about the thousands of homes that had already been lost.

Meanwhile, ministers said homeowners would still be able to let out their own home for up to 90 nights a year without planning permission. The government had been looking at whether there should be a limit of 30, 60 or 90 nights a year.

On top of this, the government also said it was looking at how to ensure the register “does not apply disproportionate regulation – for example on property owners that let out their home infrequently”.

The fact that the government announcement included a positive quote from Airbnb welcoming the register as “good news for everyone” was seized on by some commentators, with Jonathan Eley of the Financial Times posting on X that it “tells you everything you need to know about the pointlessness of the legislation”.

Aren’t some areas already cracking down on holiday lets?

Yes. In Scotland, for example, new rules took effect on 1 October last year. There, people must have a licence before they offer short-term lets, and operating without one is a criminal offence: you could get a fine of £2,500 and be banned from applying for a licence for a year. The rules apply even if someone occasionally lets out their spare room or sublets their property while on holiday.

What do campaigners say needs to be done?

Groups such as Generation Rent say the government should rethink its approach and give councils the power to require holiday lets to join a licensing scheme.

It has also called for the introduction of local caps on the number of holiday lets that can operate in an area – particularly those locations with especially serious housing affordability problems.

There is already precedent for a national licensing regime. A fairly strict one is in place for larger private rented homes – large houses in multiple occupation – in England and Wales.

  • Renting property
  • Michael Gove

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Private tenants in Scotland ‘face big rent rises and mass evictions’ from April

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Renters in England face rising no-fault evictions as reform bill delayed again

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UK renters offer tenant CVs and year’s rent upfront to try to secure a home

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No-fault evictions in England ‘soaring out of control’, say campaigners

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Ministers ‘betray’ renters in England with delay to no-fault evictions ban

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Selling Property to the Council

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  • Selling property to the council

Please note: we are NOT a council / housing association

We hope you find our guide to selling to a local council / housing association helpful. LDN Properties specialise in purchasing properties in need of improvement ; anything from unmodernised to uninhabitable properties. We also buy short lease flats .

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If you’re the owner of a freehold or leasehold former council home and you would like to sell the property, one solution could be attempting to sell it back to the local authority. But this process does have some complications and drawbacks, so this guide explains those issues and also outlines other ways that you might be able to get a speedy and fair offer on your home.

How to sell your house or flat to the local council

Benefits of selling your property to a council, disadvantages with selling a home to the council, preparing your home for sale to a council, capital gains tax and selling your home to the council, alternative methods for selling your house or flat.

  • Questions about selling your home to a local council

Selling property to council

Council houses in the UK have a long history dating back to the early 20th century, when local authorities invested millions in constructing properties that were then rented out to people who could not afford to buy or rent a typical home, with the rent based on what they could afford, as Wikipedia explains.

Whilst construction of council houses continued at a steady pace from the 1910s through to the 1980s, it then fell off in the following decades. The result is that there are constant news reports about local authorities throughout the UK facing a shortage of available housing stock such as flats, detached houses and semi-detached homes. Some councils are therefore looking to purchase private residential properties to help build the portfolio of homes they own.

One way that they are doing this is by sometimes offering to purchase former council properties that people have purchased through "Right to Buy" schemes that allow them to eventually make an offer to buy their council home and become the outright freeholder or leaseholder of that property.

A freehold property is one where you are the owner of both the land and the building constructed on that land, whereas a leasehold is someone who owns the property for a set number of years and in exchange they pay an annual ground rent to the freeholder.

If you own a former council house or flat, whether it is freehold or leasehold, and are looking to sell it empty , one option could therefore by contacting your local council to ask whether they are interested in making an offer, and seeing what price they might be willing to pay for the property.

The rest of this guide explains the pros and cons of selling your home back to a council, and also offers alternative suggestions for how to find a buyer for the house or flat, including some methods that might help you make a faster sale and at a more competitive price.

Please note that selling your property to the council can be quite a complex process with differing rules and terms around the country. Be sure to consult with your local authority / lawyer directly for the latest guidance and do not rely on this guide as anything definitive.

How to sell my house to the council

Selling your home to the local council can have a few advantages compared to other methods, and these can be useful to know when you are trying to decide how to find a buyer.

Because many local authorities have a significant shortage in housing inventory, they could be eager to move quickly on purchasing your property, which could help with speeding up the sale. That could be ideal if one of your top aims with selling is to find a buyer as fast as possible.

As the UK government’s website explains, the property will also usually have to be sold at whatever market price was agreed with the council. This can help you to have some certainty about the price that you might be able to get for selling your home, if you decide to sell to the council.

However, as the next section of this guide explains, there are unfortunately some disadvantages associated with selling your flat or house to the council compared to the potential benefits.

Selling old house to council

The concept of local authorities allowing people living in council housing to buy those properties at a discounted rate compared to the market value for similar homes can create some complications when you’re trying to sell the property, as finance website HuutiMoney notes.

You are often legally allowed to sell your council home immediately after purchasing it, but one of the major drawbacks of this process is that for five years you’ll have to pay the council back the amount (or part of) that you were able to discount from the purchase price when buying the property. In the first year, for example, you may have to pay back 100 percent of the discount, and this could increase your selling costs, particularly compared to other ways of finding a buyer.

And for 10 years from the day that you become the owner, you typically must give the council the right of first refusal – meaning you have to offer the home to them to purchase before you try and find a buyer through other means, for example using an estate agent or selling to a fast home buyer.

That means if you own a former council house and you want to sell it back to the local authority, you could have to potentially accept a much lower asking price depending on your situation.

When selling to a council, there’s also always the risk that there could be complications and the house sale might fall through for one or more reasons. Indeed, the council typically has the legal right to revoke their offer without any penalty just up until before contracts are exchanged on the property.

This uncertainty can create a lot of extra stress for you in trying to find a buyer, as well as adding many months to the overall timeline. If a sale to the council does fall apart at the last minute, it will effectively reset the schedule for selling, potentially for a very long time.

If you offer your house or flat for sale to the local authority, they will likely send one of their representatives to inspect the interior and exterior before making an offer. That’s why it’s imperative that you get the home looking in its best condition before attempting to sell it.

With the inside of your property, this means giving each room a deep clean, opening up the curtains to make rooms brighter and removing any clutter that can have the effect of making your home appear smaller. If you have any pets it’s also a good idea to keep them secured away whenever the council representative is inspecting your home ahead of making an offer.

With the outside of your property, steps you can take to improve the appearance include applying a new coat of paint to window ledges and doors, fixing any broken glass or missing roof tiles if applicable, mowing any garden or other green space and removing any weeds.

None of this work should be very costly or time-consuming or require much effort, but it can have a dramatic impact on how valuable your property appears to potential buyers. A home that does not look well maintained can appear less valuable to anyone viewing, and this could lead them to make a reduced offer compared to what they’d pay for a home in better condition.

One issue you’ll have to consider is whether to fix any major physical problem that your home might have, which can cover a wide range of issues including a vandalised property , one with an infestation, a home with a bad roof, a flat with a poor Energy Performance Certificate rating, a house that has extensive damp, and many other situations. It will be your decision whether to invest time, money and hard work into fixing this problem first or instead leaving the home "as is" and trying to find a buyer.

The advantage of investing in corrective work to fix any problems with your home is that it eliminates the scenario where the council or any other buyer might reduce their offer price significantly by the amount of money that they think it would cost them to fix the problem as the new owner, which in turn could reduce the potential profit you might make from the sale.

But many people simply do not have the often lengthy amount of time or large amounts of money that will be needed to fully correct an existing problem with their property.

If that’s your situation then you can still get a fast and fair offer for your home, as a later section of this guide explains. Instead of selling to the council, you could sell to a quick home buyer like LDN Properties because these companies are used to buying many houses and flats as is without any work being done to correct a problem that might turn off other buyers.

Whenever you sell a home, whether it’s to the local council or anyone else, you should be aware that you might have to pay Capital Gains Tax on the sale proceeds.

This is a charge that the UK government can impose on the profit, or sometimes called the gain, that someone makes when they sell a tangible valuable asset such as a home, artwork or a car, as MoneyWeek explains. The tax, if it applies, will typically be charged on this profit and not on the overall sale price of your home.

However, there are certain ways that you might be able to reduce the amount of Capital Gains Tax that you owe, or possibly even wipe out the requirement to pay altogether, so it can be a good idea to consult with a financial expert about whether these options are feasible.

Selling flat to council

If you’ve decided that you would prefer to not sell your home to the council and instead pursue another option for finding a buyer, there are several different methods available. Some of these selections have notable advantages like completing the sale in just a handful of weeks, whereas others have major disadvantages such as requiring that you pay costly commission.

Your choices will typically be among selling to a quick home buyer, trying your luck with an auction, selling on your own, or using an estate agent. To find the best option for your situation, first write down your top aims with selling, like your goal sale price, whether you can accept paying any fees, and how long you are willing to wait to find a buyer. Then compare this information against the specifics of the four methods below to find the best match.

Selling to a quick home buyer

Quick buyers, such as LDN Properties, are companies that have the financial resources on hand to make immediate purchases of almost any freehold or leasehold property, regardless of its age, condition, location, shape, size or type. They can finalise the process of buying a home within weeks because they don’t have to wait for months to first get approved for a mortgage.

Not only is this usually the speediest way to sell a home, it is also free of any fees, because honest quick buyers will never make owners pay any commission when buying their properties. This can help significantly with keeping your overall expenses low with selling.

These companies are also a great choice if you own a property that would be considered to have some kind of problem, whether that’s a physical flaw like dry rot or another potential negative factor like having noisy neighbours or the house not having a structural warranty .

Selling to a quick buyer is also a streamlined and no-hassle process, which starts when you call them and ask for a free quote for purchasing your home. They should be able to make an offer quickly, and then you’ll have at least a week to consider it.

If you agree with the initial offer, the company will then have one of their team members visit your property in order to view the interior and exterior before they make a final offer. This is the only such viewing you would need to have, which can also help reduce your stress.

And if you accept the quick buyer’s final offer, they’ll then work with your solicitor to swiftly complete the remaining steps to exchange contracts and complete the purchase. The entire timeline will be completed within a few short weeks, including you receiving the sale proceeds.

Trying your luck with an auction

Property auctions can take many months to complete, because there’s a wait between the day that you decide to sell your home and the day on which the auction happens. And then if your property does find a buyer at the auction, they typically have about 28 days to sign all their required legal documents and other steps necessary to finalised the purchase.

You might find that some auctioneers are willing to set a shorter deadline for the buyer to finish all of these tasks, so it can be a good idea to inquire about this with specific companies.

Auctioneers will also require that you pay them commission if they are able to sell your house, flat or other type of property. Generally, this fee is charged at about 2.5 percent of the property’s auction sale price, and the fee will be taken out of the sale proceeds immediately. This will add to you total selling costs, so is not a good match for those owners looking to lower expenses.

It’s always possible that some individual auctioneers may be open to negotiating a reduced rate of commission for the sale of your home, or at least to agree that the winning high bidder should pay some of your costs, so it’s worth asking auctioneers if they are open to either approach.

If you decide to sell at an auction, remember that you’ll have to pick a reserve price, and this is the lowest price at which you agree your home can sell. If nobody places a bid on your home that reaches at least the reserve price then it will be deemed unsold, and you’ll have to begin again with the process of trying to find a buyer, adding possibly several months of delay.

But if you only get a single bid and it’s at the reserve price, the home is considered sold and the buyer can sue to enforce this transaction in case you try to walk away from it. That’s why it’s important for you to calculate a reserve price that should still produce a profit from the sale of your leasehold or freehold flat or house even after paying the auctioneer their commission.

Selling on your own

This can be a slow option for selling your property, because it can often take more than a full year to find a buyer. That’s because you’ll have to find time to create and advertise a listing for your home, schedule viewings and hear offers from any serious buyers.

It can be stressful and isn’t recommended unless you have managed to sell homes in the past, or have a similarly skilled family member or friend who can help you out for free.

In exchange for all this time and hard work, the only obvious benefit of selling this way is that you won’t have to pay an auctioneer or estate agent any commission, which will help to lower your overall selling costs – a good outcome if keeping your expenses low is a main priority.

But the stress and time involved with selling can outweigh any financial benefit of selling on your own, and you might even spend more to advertise the property. Instead, you could sell to a quick home buyer, a process that won’t require you to pay any commission but that will be much speedier, typically taking a few short weeks to exchange contracts on your home.

Using an estate agent

A traditional way of selling a property is doing so through an estate agent, who will do the bulk of the work in advertising the home, organising viewings and hearing offers from buyers.

But they will charge commission for this work if they find a buyer for your flat or house. This fee will be subtracted immediately from the sale proceeds, which will add to the overall expenses associated with selling you leasehold or freehold home.

Selling via an estate agent can also be quite a slow way to sell a property, often taking many months or even more than an entire year. And there’s always the prospect that a buyer might rescind their offer and the sale will collapse, which they can do any time before contracts are exchanged. If that occurs, you’ll be back to the start with trying to find a buyer.

Top queries and answers about selling property to the council

Questions when selling property to council

Your top questions when selling property to the council

✅ can i sell a former council house back to the local authority i bought it from.

Yes, it’s perfectly legal to sell your former council home to the same local authority from which you purchased it (if they are offering this service). Council homes are properties that were constructed by local authorities in order to provide affordable housing, and eventually the UK government made it possible for people living in council houses and flats to buy them at a discounted price.

✅ Are there any negative aspects of selling a home to the council?

Yes, there are certain conditions that can reduce the potential sale price of your property when selling it back to the council. If you are trying to sell it back to the local authority within the first years of purchasing the home, you’ll have to refund all or some of the discount you got when buying it. Councils must also typically be asked to make the first offer if you’re selling within 10 years.

✅ What are the alternative options for selling my home instead of the council?

You have four other common ways to try finding a buyer for your property, and these are selling without any third party assistance, selling through a property auction, selling using the services of an estate agent or selling to a quick home buyer like LDN Properties. There are pros and cons of with these methods, but some offer a great way to get a fast and fair offer for your home.

✅ How much will I have to pay in Capital Gains Tax when selling my home?

Regardless of whether you sell your house or flat to the council or via any other method, you might have to pay Capital Gains Tax on the amount of profit that you make from the sale. You should consult with a financial professional to ask them how much tax you may need to pay, as well as asking them about any steps you can take to reduce your overall tax burden.

✅ Which options for selling my home won't require that I pay commission?

If you sell your home to the council, you won’t have to pay them commission but you may have to repay some or all of the discount you got when buying it. Selling your property to an auctioneer or estate agent will require that you pay them fees, whereas you won’t have to pay any commission if you sell on your own or sell to a quick property buyer.

✅ What is the speediest way that I can sell my former council house?

Your best option could be to contact a quick home buyer such as LDN Properties, as these companies are able to finalise the purchase of almost any house, flat or other property within a few short weeks, and that includes the exchange of contracts and paying owners the proceeds. All other options for selling a property will usually take at least several months.

✅ How can I be sure of trusting a quick buyer to purchase my home?

You should ask individual companies if they belong to an organisation known as The Property Ombudsman (TPO), which issues rules to guard homeowners against scams in the quick buying industry. All legitimate TPO members, like LDN Properties, must commit to following these rules, which should give you additional peace of mind with the sale of your home.

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Can I Sell My House to the Council and Rent it Back?

Ruban Selvanayagam - Property Solvers

Ruban Selvanayagam

Sell house fast and auction expert.

Ruban Selvanayagam is a professional cash homebuyer, private rented sector landlord, auction specialist, blogger and media commentator.

James Durr - Property Solvers

Founder, Property Entrepreneur and Sell House Fast Expert

James Durr is a passionate property entrepreneur with a strong foundation and background in business.

It may be possible to sell your house to your local council and then rent it back to them – but the process is not a simple one.

This is because councils, in most cases, do not buy directly from homeowners. When it comes to renting back, as a public body, they typically only serve tenants who are claiming Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit).

In this article, the fast house sale team at Property Solvers first discusses how to approach the council about selling your house. We then look into the circumstances under which they will rent it back to you as well as some alternative options worth considering.

How Do I Go About Selling My Property to the Council?

From the outset, it’s worth noting that selling your house or flat to the council is not straightforward (unless it was a Right to Buy property).

This is because local authorities rarely look to buy properties individually from the general public. Many prefer to purpose-build their own housing and have set budgets allocated to bulk acquisitions – such as from private house developers or local portfolio owners. Any approach for a sale of a single property may therefore not be of interest.

However, it’s certainly not worth ruling out the possibility of selling your house in this way…

Much would depend on your property’s location, size, rental demand as well as the council’s own internal policies and budgets.  On this latter point – with many local authorities facing financial constraints – they may not have the ability to buy properties even if they need/want to.

Evidence suggests that council buy back prices are likely to be less than the fair open market value.  Remember also that you probably have to jump through a number of hoops.  Unlike private cash buyers, the money may not be readily available as they often have specific periods when funds can be spent.

At the same time, as the sale is direct, you won’t have to worry about paying estate agency fees. You will have to pay for your own legal costs and disbursements.  The council will also want to conduct a professional RICS survey.

Selling Back Your “Right to Buy” Property to the Council

If you previously purchased the property directly under the Right to Buy or Right to Acquire schemes within the last 10 years, the council (or a local housing association) has the first right of refusal.

Note that, even so, they do not have any obligation to buy it back.

There are also specific rules if you bought the property in the last 5 years that state that you must pay back set amounts of the discount from when you first bought the property.  If the sale is within the first year, you must pay back all of the discount.  These reduce to:

  • 80% of the discount in the 2nd year;
  • 60% of the discount in the 3rd year;
  • 40% of the discount in the 4th year; and
  • 20% of the discount in the 5th year.

If They Do Buy Your House, Will the Council Then Rent it Back?

You may be thinking of renting back to the council as feels like the safest option.

They are, for example, unlikely to evict you in the same way as a private sell and rent back operator would do (as most local authorities offer secured tenancies).

Councils can rent out properties to those most in need socially, paying Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit).  They cannot rent out properties for profit as they are a public body.

Even if you do manage to sell to them directly, they will only be able to help if you’re in a genuinely vulnerable position.  For example, if you were forced to sell your house due to illness, long term unemployment or other difficult financial situation, you may be able to discuss lettings options with them.

Yet, even in these circumstances, the council may only be willing to rent back to you if you move into another property. This is because, just like private firms, they are governed by the strict “sell and rent back” Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations.

Note that should they see that you have pulled out equity from the property sale, they may feel that you can simply rent on the private market and refuse to assist.

Your Options Instead of Selling and Renting Back to the Council

Given the likely challenges of selling direct and then entering into a rental agreement with the council, below are some other potential routes you may want to think about…

Sell and Rent Back to a Housing Association

Housing Associations are not-for-profit organisations that operate independently of local councils.

Also referred to as Registered Social Housing or Private Registered Housing, they specialise in the provision of accommodation for low-income groups and those that require supported living.

As well as building themselves, similar to local authorities, Housing Associations are active buyers of properties from developers, homebuilders and private sellers.

Each housing association will have its own criteria. Most prefer 2 or 3-bed terraced or semi-detached houses with good access. Bungalows also tend to be of interest too. You may also have more luck if you bought the property from the organisation initially.

The good news is that most will pay the full market value. Some may even be willing to discuss shared ownership options with you.

Should you find a suitable organisation to sell to, your ability to rent back will depend on whether you fit within the criteria.  There is no shortage of people looking for such accommodation and you may find yourself competing to live in your own house – even though you’ve done them the favour of selling it to them!

You can find a monthly updated list of registered providers here . Some may have information on their acquisitions strategy directly on the website or it may be a case of calling to find out who the appropriate contacts are.

Although you will not need to pay any estate agent fees, you will need to cover Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and conveyancing fees.  They will, however, pay for the survey.

Sell and Rent Back Privately

There is a small amount of regulated sale and rent back providers out there that may be able to help. The idea is that the property is purchased and let back to you under a 5-year fixed term.

One of the downsides is that you will have to accept a reduction of the purchase price of between 15 and 25%. There are also other risks such as rental increases and the possibility of getting evicted without explanation.

With so few genuine operators in the market, you will need to make sure that you’re working with a reputable firm that adheres to the stringent criteria laid out by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Sell on the Open Market and Look for Somewhere to Rent

Although you’ll be unable to remain in the property, this is arguably the best way to achieve the maximum price.

You can then take the extra proceeds of sale and use to find a decent rental property in your local area.

If you would like to get things done quicker, it may make sense to sell via auction .  Check out our post which weighs up the pros + cons of selling or renting your house .

Remortgage and Become a Landlord Yourself

A slightly off-the-wall suggestion, but entirely feasible if you can afford to do so…

As a way to keep the property, the idea is to remortgage the property on a buy-to-let basis.  You could then let the property out and find another property to rent yourself.

Depending on your future circumstances, you can then either move back into the property down the line or sell it and buy another.

Be mindful of all the risks and hassles that come from letting out your property in addition to the extra financial exposure.

Work With A Sell House Fast Company Like Property Solvers

If you’re looking for a stress-free sale within less than a month with no estate agency or legal fees, we can certainly help.

Property Solvers cannot rent back properties but we do have a wide network of landlords and lettings agent contacts across the UK.

Please contact us 24/7 for a no-obligation chat.

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Bristol City Council

bristol.gov.uk

 Barton House evacuation: information for residents .

  • For residents
  • Council tenants and leaseholders
  • Make changes to your tenancy
  • End your council property tenancy

How to end your council property tenancy

You can end the tenancy on your council property using our notice to quit form.

When to give your notice

You must give us four week's notice to end your council property tenancy

Your notice cannot be backdated. It'll start on a Monday and end on a Monday, four weeks later.

Before you start

You can use this form to end a tenancy for yourself, and your household

If you need to end a tenancy because a tenant has died, you must use a different form: How to end a tenancy after a tenant dies .

You'll need your rent account number to submit this form.

Give notice to quit your tenancy

If you're a joint tenant

If you're a joint tenant, and you give notice, the whole tenancy will end.

The other tenant(s) won't automatically be allowed to stay. 

If you change your mind

If you change your mind about ending your tenancy, you'll need to contact us straight away.

We can only stop the notice in the weeks before your tenancy officially ends. If the tenancy end date has passed, you'll no longer have a tenancy at that property.

Before you leave

Before you leave your property, you should:

  • Make sure it's clean and tidy with no damage. We'll allow for some wear and tear, you'll be recharged if we need to clear your property or do repairs because of you altering, damaging or neglecting the property.
  • Remove all rubbish, furniture and possessions from your home, loft, garden and shed, if you have one. If you need to get rid of any large items of furniture, you can book a bulky waste collection .
  • Pay any outstanding rent and other charges
  • Let us know if you're having  problems paying your rent
  • Tell council tax that you're moving
  • If you need to,  let housing benefit know that you're moving
  • If you need, let HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) know that you're moving
  • Let your utility (electric, gas, water) companies know. You'll need to end your accounts or change your details. You'll be asked to provide meter readings
  • Let your bank, building society, insurance company and any other organisations you deal with know that you're moving
  • Redirect your mail using the Post Office website Go to http://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/redirection (opens new window)
  • Tell your doctor, school (if you have any children) if you're moving out of the area
  • Check that you've locked all doors and windows
  • Make sure everyone in the property has moved out
  • Label your keys with your name and address and take them to a citizen service point

Handing in your keys

You must label all your keys with your name and address. This includes your window keys and communal keys.

You'll need to take your keys to our  Citizen Service Point , by 12noon on the last day of your tenancy. If you don't hand the keys in by 12noon, you may be charged extra rent payments, and the costs for us to change the locks.

  • Exchange your home
  • Joint tenancies
  • Apply for a transfer
  • Tell us that a tenant has died
  • Assign your tenancy
  • Inheriting a tenancy
  • Right to buy

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give your property to council

  • Housing and local services
  • Council housing and housing associations

Council housing

Apply for a council home.

You apply for council housing through your local council.

Each council has its own rules.

You’ll usually have to join a waiting list and you’re not guaranteed to get a property. Ask your council how long you’re likely to have to wait.

You can apply if you’re 18 or over (some councils let you apply if you’re 16 or over).

You may be able to apply even if you do not live in the area.

Waiting lists

Councils decide who gets offered housing based on a ‘points’ or ‘banding’ system.

Points and bands are based on housing need. For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:

  • are homeless
  • live in cramped conditions
  • have a medical condition made worse by your current home

Once you’re high enough on the list, your council will contact you about an available property.

Choice-based lettings

Some councils have a choice-based letting scheme. This lets you tell your council which properties you’re interested in. It depends on the council, but once you’ve been accepted onto the waiting list, the basic steps are:

Find a property: check in local papers, on council websites, in council offices or in local libraries.

Check you can apply for it: some properties are only suitable for single people, families or disabled people.

Apply: this is known as ‘bidding’, but it does not involve money. You can bid online, by phone or by text.

Get the council’s decision.

Getting an offer

Normally you only have a short time to accept a housing offer. If you do not accept it, you can usually stay on the waiting list (or bid for other properties), but you may be put lower down the list.

You may be taken off the list temporarily if you keep rejecting offers.

You can appeal if you’re not happy with your council’s decision.

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IMAGES

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