What is the Right to Acquire?
The Right to Acquire initiative is very similar to the Right to Buy scheme. The main difference is that it where Right to Buy is aimed at Council tenants, Right to Acquire only applies to housing association properties and some housing built using Government grants. It was developed in 1996 but was updated in the Housing Act 2004. It gives eligible tenants the right to buy their property at a reduced cost.
KCA Properties eligible for Right to Acquire
KCA works for the benefit of the people of Kirklees, particularly through projects involving housing, education and leisure.
As both a limited company and registered charity, KCA has to work to strict rules and the KCA Board must put all of the money that the organisation receives back into projects for the benefit of Kirklees.
While completely independent, KCA works closely with other parts of the ‘Kirklees family’, particularly Kirklees Neighbourhoods & Housing (KHN) and Kirklees Council.
KCA can do new and different things mainly because it is a charitable company (or social enterprise) and yet still work for the benefit of the people of Kirklees.
Under the rules of Right to Acquire some of our tenants are allowed to buy their home at a discounted price. This doesn’t apply to many KCA tenants due to the ways in which most of the properties we own were paid for. However the rules do apply to anyone renting any of our properties in Fieldhead.
If you are a KCA tenant in Fieldhead you may be able to buy your rented home under the Right to Acquire. Depending on which part of the country you live in, you may be eligible for a discount on the price of your property.
The discount is a fixed amount set by the Government and is dependent on which part of the UK you live in. Currently in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield) the discount is set at £9,000. Your discount might be reduced if you’ve used Right to Acquire or Right to buy in the past.
Some general guidance on qualifying for the Right to Acquire.
You must have been a housing association, council, armed forces or other public housing tenant for a total of at least three years
Only some properties can be bought under the Right to Acquire. Your home must have been:
• built, bought or transferred to us from a local council after 1 April 1997
• paid for through a social housing grant – we can tell you if it was