Housing Services
Right to Buy
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 amended the Right to Buy legislation and the proposals apply differently, depending on which category of tenant you were prior to this new legislation. The following information is a brief guide to assist you in this matter. For more detailed information please check the letter that was issued at your tenancy sign up or contact your Housing Officer.
Previous Assured Tenants With No Previous Right To Buy
After signing a new Scottish Secure Tenancy with Rutherglen and Cambuslang Houisng Associaton, you will not have the right to buy for at least ten years after the introduction of the Scottish Secure Tenancy, ie until September 2012.
Previous Assured Tenants With Previous "Preserved Right to Buy"
Previous Assured Tenants who had a preserved right to buy will keep it on exactly the same terms when they become Scottish Secure Tenants. Tenants in this category include those transferring from Glasgow City Council or Scottish Homes. However, tenants who move to another property after 30 September 2002 will fall into the category in the previous section above, so moving property will significantly affect your rights.
Previous Secure Tenants With the Previous Right To Buy
Same as the previous category, in other words you keep your rights when you become a Sottish Secure Tenant, but if you then move to another property your rights will be significantly affected.
These changes do not affect the 'cost floor' rules that apply to some of the Association's stock which was recently built or improved over the last few years. These eligible costs for building or improvement will be taken into consideration within the selling price, but if the cost floor exceeds the market value then the selling price will be the market value and no discount entitlement will apply. If you have any particular enquiries about the cost floor rules or generally about the Right to Buy process, please contact our office when we will be pleased to assist you further.
Responsibilities following Right to Buy
The Right to Buy (RTB) your housing association property, comes with increased maintenance and repair implications. As new Owner Occupiers you will no longer receive a free repair service from the association. Even Common repairs e.g. close doors, windows, roof etc…will now require your share of the costs as and when repairs are affected.
As more and more tenants exercise this RTB it would appear that less and less of them are aware of the financial implications. They should ask their solicitors three important questions before proceeding.
What will be my future share of repairs for this property, according to my Title Deeds if I buy?
What Major Repairs and financial outlays are immanent once I take ownership?
As a sharing owner do I have to contribute towards future repair bills sent to me by the association?
New owners are often shocked at the level of expense that they are put to for repairs, which they had previously received free of charge. Rutherglen & Cambuslang Housing Association will supply, to them or their solicitors, future repair programmes of work and estimated financial costings for this work. This information will be in the form of a 5yr estimate of projected works and costs. This information should be taken into account before deciding to proceed with your RTB.
A typical example of a tenement flat in Rutherglen today, 15yrs after it’s initial refurbishment, indicates that new RTB owners would have to budget for estimated repairs and improvements over the next 5yrs in the region of
£ 1,500.00 to £ 4,000.00 depending on their title share and exclusive of private household repairs.
RTB purchasers should contact the association offices for further information.