# Right to Buy: where it stands two years on from the discount cut

> Mortgages & housing · 20 May 2026

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## Summary

The maximum Right to Buy discount was sharply reduced in late 2024. Take-up has fallen as a result, with policy debate continuing.

The maximum Right to Buy discount in England was sharply reduced in November 2024, returning maximum cash discounts close to pre-2012 levels — typically £16,000–£38,000 depending on region.

Council figures suggest applications fell by more than half through 2025 compared with the year before the change. Eligibility (broadly: three or more years as a secure council tenant) is unchanged.

Scotland and Wales abolished Right to Buy in 2016 and 2019 respectively. Northern Ireland operates a separate House Sales Scheme with its own rules.

Tenants considering Right to Buy should weigh the immediate discount against the longer-term costs of ownership — including buildings insurance, repairs, service charges (in flats) and the loss of council-provided maintenance.

## Related topics

- [/mortgages/](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.