Answers · UK 2025/26
What is the Right to Buy discount in 2026?
The Right to Buy discount in England is up to £38,000 for properties in urban areas and £16,000 in rural areas (where different rules apply). For houses, the discount is 1% per year of tenancy after 3 years, up to 35%. For flats, it is 2% per year up to 70%.
Full answer
The Right to Buy scheme in England allows eligible social housing tenants to purchase their home at a discount. After 3 years as a public sector tenant, you can buy with a discount of 1% per year for houses or 2% per year for flats, up to a maximum of 35% (houses) or 70% (flats). The maximum cash discount is capped at £38,000 in most urban areas and £16,000 in designated rural areas. If you sell the property within 5 years of buying it, you must repay some or all of the discount on a sliding scale. The scheme is available in England only; Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own separate rules. The property must be your main home and you must have been a public sector tenant for at least 3 years.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.