The are three main home ownership schemes (HomeBuy, Right to Buy and Right to Acquire) that are available to people who cannot afford to buy a home without help but who can meet the long-term financial commitment of home ownership.

The HomeBuy Scheme

HomeBuy enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy a share of a home and get a first step on the housing ladder. This is known as shared ownership.

Shared-ownership is a great way into home ownership. If you can't afford to buy outright, you can part buy and part rent your home.

You might buy a 25%, 50% or 75% share in your home. You pay a small rent on the share that you don't buy. The bigger the share that you purchase, the less rent you have to pay. The monthly cost of buying a 50% share is usually about two-thirds of what you would pay on a mortgage if you bought the property outright. When you can afford to do so, you can buy more shares until you own your home outright.

To find out about shared-ownership in your local area, or to apply for shared-ownership, click on the Local Agents link. Find the local Agent for your area and follow the instructions on their website.

2 new affordable HomeBuy schemes

There are two new developments available through HomeBuy in the Swale area, Spencer Park (Thistle Hill) and Eden Village. Find out more about the schemes and the price lists.

Right to Buy

The Right to Buy scheme is aimed at secure tenants of local authorities (councils) and those assured tenants of registered social landlords/housing associations who previously held secure tenancies with local authorities. It is open to virtually any secure tenant who can afford to buy.

In Swale, Right to Buy is managed between Housing Associations and tenants as the council has no direct housing stock.

Right to Acquire

The Right to Acquire (RTA) gives eligible housing association tenants a statutory right to purchase the property in which they live at a discount, generally between £9,000 - £16,000 depending on the local authority area in which the property is located. If you are a Housing Association tenant interested in RTA, please talk directly with your Housing Association.

Also of Interest

Supporting People Induction Pack

Other Housing pages you may be interested in:

• Housing
• Housing Services Directory
• Customer Service Standards for Housing Services
• Housing Strategy
• Homelessness Prevention
• Housing Options
• Landlord and Tenant Information
• Role of Housing Enforcement
• Staying Put
• Disabled Facilities Grants
• Energy Efficient Homes - Advice, Grants and Discounts
• Housing Grants and Loans
• Lifetime Homes Requirement
• Unauthorised Homes - Gypsies
• Report an Empty Property
• Have Your Say on Housing
• Housing Leaflets
• Moat - My Home Ownership Options