Who should I include in the application?
Anyone listed on your tenancy agreement (named on your rent account) must complete the sections named ‘Tenant 1, Tenant 2’ etc. You must complete it with your full name including any middle names.
Remember to tick the boxes to show that the address is each person’s only or main property and whether they wish to buy.
Any member of your family who is not on the tenancy agreement but wants to join the application with you must be over 18 or be your partner / spouse. They must not complete the ‘Tenant’ section but should be included in the ‘Family’ section. A family member or partner must have lived in the home for the last year. Spouses and civil partners do not need to meet this residency criteria.
Do I need to provide details of all previous tenancies?
Only include previous tenancies where you have been a sole or joint tenant. Please write the dates of the tenancy, names of tenants, address of the tenancy and name of the landlord for all previous tenancies.
You should not include any private tenancies as these do not count towards your eligibility.
Don’t forget to sign the Authority to Disclose form which permits us to contact your previous landlords for confirmation of the tenancies.
Where do I sign?
There are different areas on the form for you to sign depending on whether you are a tenant or not. Please sign the correct area or your form will have to be returned to you which may delay your application.
The boxes on page 10 are for tenants who want to buy. The boxes at the top of page 11 are for tenants who are stating they do not wish to buy and the second set on page 11 are for family members who want to share in the Right to Buy.
Can you tell me the value of my property and the discount I am entitled to before I start the process?
We are not able to give you a property value until our independent valuation company carries out a visit and values the property during the application process.
You may wish to have an initial valuation carried out at your own cost or do your own research using property value comparison sites, but please bear in mind that your property will be assessed on its own merits and may be different to those listed.
If you would like to know more about the discount you might be entitled to use the Government online calculator to help you.
What if I have made improvements to my home?
Any improvements which you have made will not be included in the valuation. Please make sure you provide details of all works within the application form. The valuation process will then effectively ignore any increase in value that your improvements may have made. Please note that it does not reduce the price of your home by the amount you have paid for the works.
What will I need to provide during my application?
All applicants wanting to buy the property will need to provide the following supporting documentation:
- Last three month's proof of income (payslips, self employed audited accounts, dividend vouchers)
- Last three month's bank statements for all accounts held - these must be itemised and have the applicants’ names and address clearly visible
- Energy bill (gas or electric) dated within the last three months
- Two forms of ID - passport and driving licence
We require all of these documents to be submitted within 4 weeks of the date of the signature on the RTB1 Application form. If these are not supplied within this time we shall assume that you wish to withdraw your application and will close your file.
For more information about how and why we use your personal information please see Waverley Borough Council’s Privacy Notice and date protection statement.
What happens after I have submitted my RTB1 Application and RTB Additional Information forms?
A member of the Homeownership team will contact you to arrange an interview where they will discuss the particulars of your application and explain the remainder of the process to you. Please note that these meetings take place online and you will not be required to meet with the team in person.
The two forms you will need to complete are the RTB1 Application and the RTB Additional Information form; both can be found within this page.
What if I change my mind after I have submitted my application?
You will need to notify the team in writing that you wish to withdraw your application and they will close the file. This will not impact on your ability to apply in the future.
How do I know if I am buying the leasehold or the freehold of my home?
If you live in a house you will be purchasing the freehold. This means that you buy the land and the building for an unlimited period. If you live in a flat you will be purchasing the leasehold, which means you own the property but not the land it is built on. Ownership is limited for a set period of time as determined by the freeholder.
You can discover more information about Leasehold properties on the gov.uk leasehold property website here which answers basic questions regarding leases.
Once you have purchased your property you must make sure you read the deed as there will be restrictive covenants that require you to ask permission before doing certain things with your property, such as building an extension, removing an internal wall, changing your heating system, keeping pets, renting it out etc.
Please note that this requirement is separate from a planning permission application.
Do I have to keep paying rent while applying to buy my home?
Yes you must continue to pay your rent until you have actually bought your home. By not paying rent you are breaking your tenancy agreement.
How long should the process take?
Once we receive your completed application forms with supporting evidence, we will send you a s124 Notice (RTB2) within four weeks or eight weeks if you have been a Waverley tenant for less than three years.
Once we have confirmed that you are eligible, we will then send you a formal offer letter (s125 Notice) within eight weeks if you are buying a house or twelve weeks if you are buying a flat.
If the process to buy your home takes longer than you think it should, you are able to submit a Initial Notice of Delay (RTB6) form. This means that we will have to progress your application within one month or tell you why we are not able to do so.