Leaseholders' handbook - your right to buy the freehold
The following information is intended for guidance only. This issue is dealt with more fully in the government booklet, 'Your right to buy the freehold of your building'.

All long leaseholders of properties have the right to buy the freehold of their building by grouping together with other leaseholders as long as they meet certain conditions. The purchase is called 'collective enfranchisement'.

Please get professional advice before making any decisions.

The value of your building under the right to collective enfranchisement is based on the open market value of the building.

Your decision on whether to take up the new rights may depend on how much it will cost. There is no formula for working out the price and we cannot tell you how much you will have to pay.

Right to first refusal - properties sold under the right to buy

Residents who buy a property through the right-to-buy scheme will not be able to sell their property for 10 years, unless they meet the conditions of section 156a of the Housing Act 1985.

This means that residents must give the landlord the right to buy back the property first. The leaseholder or freeholder selling their property must serve a notice on Brent Council.

The council then has eight weeks to tell the leaseholder or freeholder if they want to buy.

We advise all leaseholders and freeholders to get legal advice before selling their home in this period.

If you need any more information, please contact the Right to Buy section on 020 8937 2600.

You can also access the 'right to first refusal' online.