Voluntary Right to Buy Pilot
Voluntary Right to Buy Pilot
The Midlands Voluntary Right to Buy (VRTB) Pilot was launched on 16 August 2018. WATMOS is taking part. Eligible customers may qualify for a discount on the purchase price of their rented home. The pilot will run until March 2020.
Some properties are exempt from VRTB. If your home is eligible, you will also need to meet certain criteria as a tenant. Limited Government funding means that there is no guarantee that an application will be successful. More information can be found at the GOV.UK Right to Buy website.
VRTB: need to know
Can I definitely take part in VRTB?
You are not eligible for the VRTB If you have the Preserved Right to Buy (PRTB)
Because there is limited funding, the Government will select applications by ballot from all the registrations. Registration is open from 16 August and will close a month later. The Government will then randomly select applications to proceed. Those applications will be allocated a Unique Reference Number (URN). If you do not receive a URN you cannot make your application to WATMOS
This means that not all applications will necessarily be successful. WATMOS does not have any say in this selection process
If you do receive a URN, which will be sent to you by email from the Government, you can then contact WATMOS to proceed with your application
Properties which are part of a wellbeing, older persons or supported housing scheme are not included in the scheme.
WATMOS has excluded some properties from the VRTB
These include:
Bungalows
Properties with four or more bedrooms (where the household is under occupying by two or more bedrooms)
Adapted properties where the household no longer needs the adaptations
Properties which are built subject to Section 106 or other planning restrictions
Properties in rural areas
Properties that have been identified for demolition
Properties where the market value is less than the amount WATMOS has spent building, buying or improving it in the last 15 years.
There are costs involved in applying to buy your home under VRTB
You will need to pay an administration fee of £250.00 during the application process. This will be deducted from the sale price if the sale completes or reimbursed if your home does not qualify for any reason
You will lose the fee if you cancel the application or do not meet the strict timescales which apply to the scheme.
What do I need to include in the VRTB application?
You will need to include the names of household members who will be included in the final sale. If you make any changes later you will need to submit a new application
Make sure that if your application includes additional family members, they can prove that they have lived at the property for at least 12 months
To claim all of the discount that you are entitled to, include all addresses of properties you have lived in owned by a Housing Association or Council. WATMOS can verify any addresses that you have had with us
If you would like to include years spent with other Housing Associations or Councils you will need to provide a tenancy agreement, letter from the landlord or Council Tax or copies of the electoral register for the relevant years as proof.
What will I need to do before I send my VRTB application to WATMOS?
You will need to have been selected and have received a unique reference number (URN) from the Government website. WATMOS cannot accept an application without this
You will need to make sure you are not in rent arrears with WATMOS. We cannot accept your application if you are in arrears.
There are strict time scales which you will need to meet
The unique reference number (URN) is valid for 4 weeks
When your application is accepted you have 10 days to make an appointment to provide your documents (it may be worth getting these organised before you apply)
If successful, you will receive an offer within 12 weeks
When you receive your offer you have 4 weeks to decide whether to accept and provide solicitor details
When the matter is referred to solicitors, completion should be within 12 weeks. Please make your solicitor aware of this when you appoint them.