Who has the preserved Right to Buy?

The Preserved Right to Buy applies to people who were existing tenants of Middlesbrough Council and became tenants of Erimus Housing at the date the properties transferred to Erimus Housing ownership on 15th November 2004.

Who has the Right to Aquire?

 

The Right to Acquire applies to people who have become a new tenant of Erimus Housing since 15th November 2004.

Who cannot apply?

You will not be able to apply if:

• You are a starter tenant (new tenancy)
• You have not held a local authority tenancy for two years (Right to Buy) or a housing association tenancy for five years (Right to Acquire).
• You live in a property suitable for occupation by elderly people which was first let before 1st January 1990 and was let for occupation by someone aged 60 or more.
• You live in sheltered housing i.e. if the property is one where a warden service is provided and there is a common room nearby.
• Your property is let in connection with your job.
• An application can be cancelled if a Demolition Notice is served.
• Yourself or another household member is served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), a notice can be served to suspend the Right to Buy/Right to Acquire application.
• You are an undischarged bankrupt or have an agreement with creditors.

How do I apply to purchase the property?

Application forms are available from your local housing office or by telephoning (freephone number from any landline) 08000 461600 or 01642 233780. Completed forms should be returned to Erimus Housing Ltd, 4th Floor, Centre North East, 73–75 Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2RU.

You may be charged for services if you use an independent advisor to submit and process your application. We recommend that you check this before using this sort of service.

What is the timescale?

The timescale for completion of the Right to Buy/Acquire varies.

Following receipt of an application you will receive an acknowledgement letter. An assessment of whether you are eligible to buy the property will be made and you will receive a form called an RTB2, which will confirm whether you are able to buy or not. Where you are not able to the reasons why will be provided. 

If your property is a house and you qualify for the Right to Buy we have eight weeks to send you the Landlords Offer Notice. If your property is a flat and you qualify we have 12 weeks to send you the notice.

Landlords offer notice

This will tell you the valuation of the property, the discount you are eligible for and the amount you would pay to purchase the property. If the property is a flat it will also show the service charges and ground rent which will apply.

Once you have received this you will need to decide whether you wish to proceed and return the Offer Reply Notice which will be with your offer pack. If any information, for example solicitors details (you will need to arrange your own solicitor to deal with the sale) are missing from the Offer Reply Notice this will delay your purchase.

The valuation

The valuation is carried out by an Independent Valuer who is not an Erimus employee and is based on current market values.

If you disagree with the valuation that you receive you can appeal to the District Valuer who will revalue your property. This valuation will be final. You have three months from the receipt of your Landlords Offer Notice to appeal against the valuation.

You should ensure that you agree with the valuation before proceeding with acceptance of the offer price.

For further information relating to this please contact the 01642 773600.

What discount will I receive?

Your discount will be assessed on the amount of time you have been a tenant. This will include any tenancies held with other local authorities or housing associations. However the Right to Buy has a maximum discount of £22,000.

The Right to Acquire will always have a fixed maximum discount of £9,000.

Following completion of the sale

If your property is a house once the sale is complete you would become a freeholder, if you property is a flat you will become a leaseholder.

As a freeholder you would become responsible for all of your homes maintenance and improvements. If you become a leaseholder you would be responsible for the interior of your home. Erimus Housing will be responsible for the maintenance of the structure and exterior of the block and you will be required to pay service charges and ground rent. The details of services and ground rent will be sent to you with the Landlords Offer Notice.

Flats are leased for 125 years.

Selling your property

If you decide to sell your property within 10 years of your buying it, you will be required to ask Erimus Housing whether they wish to buy it back before you sell it to someone else.

You will also be required to repay part of your discount if you sell your property within five years if you bought after 18th January 2005 or three years if you bought it before 18th January 2005.

Who can I contact?

If you have any further enquires regarding the Right to Buy/Right to Acquire process please contact the Right to Buy Section on

01642 773600 or write to us at Erimus Housing Ltd, 4th Floor, Centre North East, 73 – 75 Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2RU.

Alternatively, you can email us by clicking here.

For your security please be aware that anyone visiting your property promoting the Right to Buy/Right to Acquire will not be an employee of Erimus Housing. All Erimus Housing employees carry a photographic identification.

The valuer will contact you before visiting, however if you have any concerns about his identification please ask for proof and if you are unsure do not allow access without contacting us on 01642 773600.