Right to Buy and Right to Acquire are often confused, but they are not the same scheme. Right to Buy usually applies to council tenants and offers larger discounts, while Right to Acquire applies to many housing association tenants and comes with smaller, fixed discounts. The mortgage rules, lender appetite, and deposit expectations can differ, so knowing which scheme applies to you before applying for a mortgage matters more than most people realise.
Jan 12, 2026
If you’re renting from the council or a housing association and thinking about buying your home, you’ve probably come across two terms:
They’re often used interchangeably online, but they are not the same thing. Applying for the wrong scheme, or assuming they work the same way, is one of the most common reasons people waste time or get confused when speaking to lenders.
This guide explains the difference, in plain English, and helps you work out which one applies to you.
Right to Buy is a government scheme that allows eligible council tenants to buy their home at a discount.
In England, you can usually apply if:
The discount increases with time as a tenant and is capped, with different limits depending on where you live.
Right to Buy discounts are often substantial, which is why many buyers ask whether the discount can be used as a deposit.
Right to Acquire is a different scheme that applies mainly to housing association tenants, not council tenants.
It usually applies if:
The key difference is the discount.
Right to Acquire discounts are:
This difference alone can affect how a mortgage is structured.
One of the biggest advantages of Right to Buy is the size of the discount, which can sometimes remove the need for a cash deposit altogether. How this works depends on the lender and the structure of the mortgage. We explain how Right to Buy discounts are used as deposits in this guide.
Will Sharman, Founder of Mortgage Brokers Near Me: “Right to Buy and Right to Acquire look similar on the surface, but lenders don’t always treat them the same. Knowing which one applies before you apply saves a lot of wasted time.”
This is the first thing to confirm. Many people assume they’re Right to Buy when they’re actually Right to Acquire.
This directly affects loan-to-value calculations and whether the discount can help offset a deposit requirement.
Some lenders are comfortable with both schemes. Others are more cautious with Right to Acquire due to:
This doesn’t mean a mortgage isn’t possible. It means lender choice matters.
Right to Buy discounts can sometimes be treated as equity by lenders. Right to Acquire discounts are less likely to fully cover this, which is why some buyers are surprised when they’re still asked for savings.
This is where many online “no deposit” claims fall apart.
Lender policy also plays a big role. For example, Barclays is often associated with zero deposit Right to Buy mortgages, but the criteria are more specific than many headlines suggest. We’ve explained the reality of Barclays’ approach in this breakdown.
From a mortgage perspective, the scheme you’re using affects:
Applying for a mortgage before confirming which scheme applies can lead to:
At Mortgage Brokers Near Me, we see this confusion regularly.
People often come to us saying:
“I’m buying under Right to Buy”
when in reality, they’re eligible for Right to Acquire.
Or they assume the discount will remove the need for savings, without understanding how lenders will assess the case.
What we do:
Your landlord is the quickest indicator. Council tenants are usually Right to Buy. Housing association tenants are often Right to Acquire, but it must be confirmed formally.
Sometimes it helps, but it’s less flexible than Right to Buy. Lenders vary, and a cash deposit may still be required.
Not always. Some lenders have stricter rules around Right to Acquire properties, which is why lender selection matters.
Credit history is assessed in the same way for both, but tighter loan-to-value cases can leave less margin for credit issues.
Right to Buy and Right to Acquire are both routes into homeownership, but they are not interchangeable.
The scheme you fall under affects:
Getting that distinction right early can be the difference between a smooth purchase and months of frustration.
Before you apply for a mortgage, get clarity on where you stand.
Speak to a mortgage adviser at Mortgage Brokers Near Me and get clear guidance on whether Right to Buy or Right to Acquire applies to you, and how to move forward.
A clear, step-by-step guide to the first-time buyer process, written by Will Sharman of Mortgage Brokers Near Me. Learn what happens at each stage and when to get expert help.
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Getting a mortgage right now feels harder because lenders keep changing their rules, but most of the barriers people face can be fixed. A “no” from one lender does not mean you cannot get a mortgage. Income rules vary, credit score rules vary, and each lender calculates affordability differently. A good broker checks everything upfront, matches you to the right lender, and fixes issues before they become problems. If you want to know what you can borrow without guessing, speak to MBNM.
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If you’re a council tenant wondering whether you need a deposit to buy your home, the answer is often no. With the Right to Buy scheme, many lenders allow the council discount to be used as your deposit, meaning you can purchase your property without putting down cash savings. While affordability, credit history, and property type still matter, the right advice can make the difference between thinking homeownership is out of reach and actually making it happen.
Read ArticleIf you’re buying, moving, or remortgaging, speak with a MBNM adviser and get clear guidance on what’s realistically available to you, before you commit to anything.
Mortgage Brokers Near Me LTD is an Appointed Representative of The Right Mortgage LTD which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The guidance and/or information contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore targeted at consumers based in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Will Writing and some forms of Trusts and Buy to Lets. A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.
Your Home (or property) may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debts secured on it.
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