This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. Get advice relating to England

The rules relating to the right to buy changed on March 1 2011.

The right to buy for Scottish secure tenancies created after 1 March 2011

If you enter into a new Scottish secure tenancy with your local council or housing association after 1 March 2011 you will not have the right to buy. Your right to buy is also taken away if you are returning to renting from your local council or housing association after a break. For example you may have been renting from a private landlord on a short assured tenancy for a few years and have now been offered a council house.

New supply social housing

The right to buy is also removed for tenants living in new supply social housing (this means housing that has only started to be let out under a Scottish secure tenancy since June 25 2008). There are limited exceptions to this rule - such as if you had no choice but to leave your previous tenancy and move into a new supply social house, or your landlord did not give you 7 days notice that you would not have the right to buy in your new supply social house before the Scottish secure tenancy was set up or, if your house is being bought under the Scottish Government's mortgage to rent scheme, 7 days before the sale was concluded.

What if I had no choice but to leave my Scottish secure tenancy?

If you were asked to move by your local council or housing association, or your old house was demolished, you will still have the right to buy. Your local council or housing association may also decide to ignore a break in your Scottish secure tenancy that was due to a situation that was out of your control. For example you may have had to move due to antisocial behaviour in your area, or you had to leave because you were suffering from domestic abuse. In some situations your local council or housing association may decide that they want to let you buy the property you are renting from them anyway.

My tenancy began before 2 March 2011 - do I still have the right to buy?

Tenants who entered into a Scottish secure tenancy before 2 March 2011 still have the right to buy and your housing provider must let you know if this changes for any reason. For example, if your local council decides that there are too few affordable properties in your area and suspends the right to buy for all social tenants, they must send you a letter informing you of this. Please see the section on Do I have the right to buy? for more information.