Other housing options
There are a number of other housing options available to help you find a new home.
Renting from a Private Landlord
For advice about renting a home from a private landlord you can talk to West Northamptonshire Council's Private Sector Housing Team.
Right to Buy
If you are an existing tenant, you may be interested in buying your home. You can find more details on the Right to Buy scheme below.
Homelessness advice
If you are homeless or threatened wih homelessness, it is important you seek advice as soon as possible. Homelessness services are provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
You can contact their Housing Options team on:
- 0300 330 7000
- or visit the One Stop Shop to discuss your situation.
Further information is available on West Northamptonshire Council's website.
Click on the sections below for other important information.
What is Right to Buy?
Right to Buy allows most Council tenants to buy their council home at a discount. This applies to NPH customers because West Northamptonshire Council still owns the properties that NPH manage.
Who can apply?
To qualify, the property must be your main home and self-contained. You must also have held a secure or flexible tenancy with a public sector landlord (council, housing association or NHS trust) for at least 3 years, although these do not need to be continuous.
Use the eligibility checker on the Right to Buy website to find out if you can apply.
Right to Buy applications can be refused if:
- the tenant has outstanding possession orders
- the property type is suitable for elderly or disabled people
- tenant has legal problems with debt
- the tenancy is held in connection with your job
- tenant’s home is due to be demolished.
How much is the discount?
The maximum discount is £96,000 across England (on applications on or after 6th April 2023) except in London boroughs where it’s £127,900. It will increase each year in April in line with the consumer price index (CPI).
The discount is based on:
- how long you’ve been a tenant with a public sector landlord
- the type of property you’re buying - a flat or house
- the value of your home
If you are making a joint application, the number of years is counted for the tenant who has held a public sector tenancy for the longest. You will usually have to repay some or all your discount if you sell your home within 5 years. You may get a smaller discount if you’ve used Right to Buy in the past.
For a House/Bungalow:
Discount starts at 35% increasing 1% each year up to a maximum of 70%. Tenants must have spent 40 years to receive the maximum percentage.
For a Flat/Maisonette:
Discount starts at 50% increasing 2% each year up to a maximum of 70%. Tenants must have spent 15 years to receive the maximum percentage.
No repairs or improvements will be carried out on any properties that have active Right to Buy applications, only emergency repairs that are considered a health and safety risk may still be carried out.
If you have any questions about the Right to Buy scheme, please contact the Right to Buy team on 01604 838160 or you can find more detailed information here.
For a Right to Buy guide please click here.