For the past 18 months, I've been encouraging council tenants to consider applying for their Right to Buy discount sooner rather than later.
Not because I knew changes were coming, but because housing policy can change over time. Opportunities available today aren't always guaranteed to exist tomorrow.
Recent proposals from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have reignited the debate about the future of the Right to Buy scheme. It's important to stress that these are only proposals—they have not been enacted and are not currently UK Government policy. However, they have started an important conversation about whether the scheme should be reformed in the future.
Even if you don't live in a council property, there's a good chance someone in your network does. A client, colleague, employee, friend or family member could be eligible to buy their home at a significant discount without fully understanding the opportunity available to them.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is people assuming they can always apply "next year." The reality is that governments regularly review housing policy, and while nobody knows what the future holds, making decisions based on assumptions can be risky.
This isn't about creating fear or encouraging rushed decisions. It's about helping people become informed while the current rules remain in place.
If you know someone living in a council property who has ever mentioned buying their home, encourage them to understand their options and seek professional advice. Whether the scheme changes in the future or not, being informed today is always better than wishing you'd acted yesterday.
Anthony Lindsay is a UK mortgage broker with over 30 years' experience in banking and finance, specialising in helping first-time buyers, Right to Buy applicants, self-employed borrowers and other clients navigate the mortgage process. Mortgage advice is always subject to individual circumstances, lender criteria and affordability assessments.
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