Right to Buy Solicitors
Right to Buy solicitors in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire
You could be eligible to buy your property through the Right to Buy scheme if:
- The property is your main home/only place of residence
- You are a secure tenant.
- The property is self-contained.
- For three years you have had a public sector landlord, such as a council, housing association or the NHS Trust.
- You are making a joint application with someone who shares your tenancy.
- You are making a joint application with up to three family members who have lived with you for at least a year.
- Whilst you were living in the property it was owned by the council before being sold to another landlord.
You may be entitled to a discount ranging from 35-60% for a flat or 50-70% for a house; this can often vary depending on the length of time you have been a tenant in the property, the type of property and the total value of the property.
Our conveyancing lawyers have helped numerous clients to purchase their council house or housing association property through Right to Buy.
Why use Rothera Bray for Right to Buy?
We have a wealth of experience in making applications for Right to Buy and dealing with local councils in regards to applications.
We can advise you on any surveys to be carried out that the local authority has requested.
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“We explain costs clearly – so there’s no hidden surprises”
Michelle Young
Head of Conveyancing
FAQs
The Right to Buy scheme allows most council home tenants and some housing association tenants to buy their council property at a discount.
The scheme was originally introduced in the Housing Act 1980 and although it has been abolished in Wales and Scotland it is still available in England and Northern Ireland.
You will need to complete an RTB1 form, which can be found here. Once you have completed and signed the form you need to send this to your landlord. Your landlord then has four weeks to respond to your application, or eight weeks if they have been your landlord for less than three years.
If your landlord declines your application, they must state their reasons for doing so. You will only be able to appeal this decision if the landlord has declined your offer because the property is suitable for elderly people.
If your landlord accepts your application they will send you an offer, which needs to be sent within eight weeks of their agreeing to the sale if you’re buying a freehold property, or 12 weeks if you’re buying a leasehold property. The offer will include information about:
- The price they think you should pay for the property and how they have worked it out
- Your level of discount and how they worked it out
- A description of the property and any land include in the price
- Estimates of service charges for the first five years
- Any known problems with the property’s structure
After receiving your landlord’s offer, you will have 12 weeks to decide if you want to buy the property. If you do not agree with your landlord’s offer you have three months within getting the offer to write to them and ask for an independent valuation. A district valuer from HM Revenue and Customs will visit your property to carry out a valuation. You then have 12 weeks to accept HMRC’s valuations or pull out of the sale.
You might need to pay stamp duty depending on the value of the property. Stamp duty is a one-off tax you pay when you buy a property, and the amount is based on a percentage of the purchase price. It varies according to the property value, and some lower-value properties may be exempt.
Preserved Right to Buy applies if:
- Your home used to be a council property but was sold to another public sector landlord whilst you were living in it; or
- After your home was sold by the council to a new landlord, you moved into a different property owned by the same landlord
You will also still need to fulfil the main eligibility criteria for Right to Buy as well
Right to Acquire has similar eligibility criteria as Right to Buy but allows most housing association tenants to buy their home at a discount, although the discount is only up to £16,000.
To be eligible for Right to Acquire, your property must have been either:
- Built or bought by a housing association after 31st March 1997; or
- Transferred from a local council to a housing association after 31st March 1997
Yes, you can borrow more on a Right to Buy mortgage, but it is advised that you talk to your landlord as well as your mortgage adviser and your local authority, who will have to approve the additional borrowing. It is also worth being aware that only a small number of lenders offer additional money on a right to buy mortgage and some only allow additional funding for home improvements.
No, in most cases lenders will accept a Right to Buy discount instead, but it is worth checking as not all do.
The amount of discount you can get depends on:
- How long you’ve been a tenant with a public sector landlord
- Whether you’re buying a flat or house
- The value of your home
If you’re buying the property with someone else, you count the years of whoever has been a public sector tenant the longest. You will also get a smaller discount if you have used Right to Buy in the past, or less discount if your landlord has spent money building or maintaining your home. If you sell your home within five years you usually have to repay some or all of your discount.
For houses you get a 35% discount if you have been a public sector tenant for between 3 and 5 years, and after 5 years the discount goes up 1% for every year you’ve been a public sector tenant, up to a maximum of 70% or £84,600 across England and £112,800 in London boroughs.
If you live in a flat you get a 50% discount if you have been a public sector tenant for between 3 and 5 years, after 5 years the discount goes up 2% for each extra year you have been a public sector tenant, up to a maximum of 70% or £84,600 across England and £112,800 in London boroughs.
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Posted 30 April 2026
Great support, always keeping us in the picture. A first rate service at a very competitive price. I would not hesitate to recommend Rothera Bray conveyancing services.
Simon Wilton
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Posted 27 April 2026
I cannot recommend Rothera Bray highly enough, specifically Laura and Lisa, who handled my recent property purchase. From start to finish, their communication was exceptional. They were consistently responsive and maintained a level of momentum that allowed the entire process to move quickly and efficiently. What I appreciated most was their pragmatism and flexibility - they were very accommodating. A highly professional and stress-free conveyancing experience.
Jason S
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Posted 25 April 2026
I had a very positive experience with the conveyancing service, particularly working with Sara Odedra. Communication was consistently clear, and Sara provided straightforward guidance on what needed to be done at each stage of the process. Everything was handled efficiently and in a timely manner, which made the experience much less stressful. Sara was always responsive and easy to reach whenever I had questions or needed clarification...Overall, I would highly recommend Sara and her team’s services and would happily use them again in the future.
N A
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Posted 24 April 2026
We chose Rothera Bray solicitors to deal with the sale of our late father’s bungalow because our parents had always dealt with them in the past. Thank goodness we did! Lucy and Karen were excellent throughout. They were compassionate and understanding and kept us updated at all times. They were also easy to reach and most helpful if we had any queries. We would highly recommend Rothera Bray and will definitely use them in the future should the need arise.
Lynne
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Posted 20 April 2026
I am so glad that I chose Rothera Bray Derby as my conveyancing solicitor, they were very professional, informative and efficient from start to finish with a special mention to Lucy and Karen (Derby branch) who were always more than happy and responsive to help with any issues or queries during the process. I can absolutely recommend Rothera Bray and would 100% use them again in the future!!
Claire
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Posted 16 April 2026
My wife and I would truly like to thank you for your assistance in moving house. We appreciate how responsive you were throughout the process and your support during the stressful exchange and completion process. We could not have moved without you.
S Cox
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Posted 16 April 2026
We had an excellent experience with our solicitors, Michelle and Ruth, and couldn’t be happier with the service they provided throughout the purchase of our first home. From start to finish, the entire process was handled with professionalism, efficiency, and care. Completing in just 10 weeks was impressive, and it’s a testament to how proactive and organised they were. Michelle and Ruth consistently kept us updated at every stage, which gave us real peace of mind, especially as first-time buyers. No question ever felt too small , they were always approachable, responsive, and happy to explain things clearly, helping us feel confident in every decision we made...We’re incredibly grateful for your support and would highly recommend your services to anyone looking for a reliable and professional team.
Laura McDade
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Posted 15 April 2026
Excellent service from start to finish. Abbey and Luisa were knowledgeable, approachable, and always quick to respond. Their support made everything much smoother and less stressful. We’re very grateful for their help and highly recommend them.
Lu Ying
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Posted 13 April 2026
Absolutely brilliant work and service. Would definitely recommend. Thank you Julekha and Sarrina.
Amit
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Posted 8 April 2026
I dealt with Ellie Robinson as my solicitor and she was fantastic, easy to talk to and helped me understand everything as a first time buyer.
Jake Ashton
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Posted 8 April 2026
Ellie Robinson helped us remortgage recently and was a pleasure to work with! She was very knowledgeable and communicative and I will be working with her again in future!
Eliot Morris
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Posted 7 April 2026
Absolute total professionalism throughout. Very thorough and very helpful. Always there to answer questions promptly and held my hand through a very emotional time. The move was quick and easy thanks to Ellie Robinson and her team at Derby, I can’t thank her enough.
Ruth Haywood
Tim Brooke
Partner
Tim Brooke is a solicitor and partner in our residential conveyancing department, based at our West Bridgford and Nottingham offices.
Emily Weston
Partner
Emily Weston is as a Partner in the Residential Conveyancing team and is based primarily at our Beeston office.
Michelle Young
Partner & Head of Conveyancing
Michelle Young is a residential property specialist and heads up the conveyancing team. She’s based at our Loughborough office.
Kiran Phagura
Managing Associate
Kiran Phagura is a Managing Associate based in our Leicester office. She specialises in all aspects of Residential Conveyancing.
Lucy Walsh
Managing Associate
Lucy Walsh is a Managing Associate in the Residential Conveyancing team and is based primarily at our Derby office.
Carol Freeman
Senior Associate
Carol Freeman is a Chartered Legal Executive in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Johanna Goddard
Senior Associate
Jo Goddard has over 20 years experience specialising in all aspects of residential conveyancing and regularly acts for clients on sales, purchases, remortgages and transfers of equity and is part of one of the largest conveyancing teams across the East Midlands. She works out of our Nottingham city centre office, in the Lace Market.
Sade Love
Senior Associate Licensed Conveyancer
Sade Love is a Licensed Conveyancer in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is Conveyancing Team Leader at our Mapperley office.
Julekha Nathani
Senior Associate Solicitor
Julekha specializes in residential conveyancing and is based at our Market Harborough office. Having qualified in 2016 she has an extensive property knowledge dealing with a wide range of conveyancing matters.
Sally Simpson
Senior Associate
Sally is based at our West Bridgford office. She has 40 years experience specialising in all aspect of residential conveyancing.
Jo Clarke
Associate
Jo is an experienced Conveyancing Associate and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Abbey Freeman
Associate Solicitor
Abbey Freeman is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Brays Conveyancing team. She is based at our Loughborough office and is assisted by Luisa. She specialises in all aspects of Residential Property including New Build Purchases.
Sandy Kaur
Associate Solicitor
Sandy Kaur is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Beeston office.
Tina Rana
Associate Solicitor
Tina is an Associate Solicitor in our Residential Conveyancing department, based in Leicester.
She has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of residential conveyancing including, leasehold and transfer of equities.
Christopher Sweetman
Associate
Christopher is a Licensed Conveyancer based at our Loughborough office. He specialises in all aspects of Residential Property including New Build Purchases and Unregistered Properties.
Fatima Altaf
Solicitor
Fatima Altaf is a Solicitor in the Residential Property department. She is based at our Leicester office.
Kerry Brown
Chartered Legal Executive
Kerry Brown is a residential property specialist at Rothera Bray’s Nottingham HQ.
Hayley Hart
Solicitor
Hayley Hart is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley branch office.
Jackie Murphy
Solicitor
Jackie Murphy is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing team and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Sara Odedra
Chartered Legal Executive
Sara Odedra is a Chartered Legal Executive in our Residential Property department and is based at our Market Harborough office.
Kerry Redfern
Licensed Conveyancer
Kerry Redfern is a residential property specialist in our Mapperley office.
Suzanne Riozzi
Chartered Legal Executive
Suzanne Riozzi is a Chartered Legal Executive in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Ellie Robinson
Solicitor
Ellie Robinson is a Solicitor in the residential conveyancing department at Rothera Bray and is based at our Derby office.
Laura Runcak
Solicitor
Laura Runcak is a Solicitor in the Conveyancing department at Rothera Bray Derby and Beeston.
Ruth Cooper
Managing Paralegal
Ruth Cooper is a Managing Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Nikola Dzierzak
Senior Paralegal
Nikola is a Senior Paralegal and works within our Conveyancing department at our West Bridgford office.
Gail Garner
Senior Paralegal
Gail is a Senior Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Schiennel Holness
Senior Paralegal
Schiennel Holness is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley office.
Theresa Mason
Senior Paralegal
Theresa is a Senior Paralegal in our Conveyancing department based at the West Bridgford office.
Grace Millward
Senior Paralegal
Grace Millward is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray Residential Conveyancing department and is based at the Derby branch.
Luisa Palumbo
Senior Paralegal
Luisa Palumbo is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Loughborough office.
Shelby Richardson
Senior Paralegal
Shelby Richardson is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley branch.
Beccy Rodham
Senior Paralegal
Beccy Rodham is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Julian Ryan
Senior Paralegal
Julian Ryan is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Market Harborough office.
Priscilla Dohara
Paralegal
Priscilla Dohara is a Paralegal specialising in residential conveyancing, providing clients with efficient and reliable support throughout the property transaction process. Priscilla is based at our Loughborough office.
Lianne Green
Paralegal
Lianne is a Paralegal in the Conveyancing Team based at our West Bridgford branch.
Akeeta Lakhani
Paralegal
Akeeta is a Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing team. She is based at our Leicester city centre office.
Lisa Rainbow
Paralegal
Lisa is a Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing team. She is based at Mercury Place in Leicester.
Nirvair Kaur Singh
Paralegal
Nirvair is a Paralegal in our Conveyancing team based at our West Bridgford office.
Rhiannon Tyrrell
Paralegal
Rhiannon Tyrrell is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Loughborough office.
Sally Cooper
Conveyancing Department Assistant
Sally is our first point of contact for any new conveyancing enquiries that come in to the department and provides a bespoke quoting service for prospective clients, estate agents and other referrers of work.
Zenith Lee
Paralegal
Zenith is a Paralegal in our Conveyancing team based at our West Bridgford office.
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