Housing association tenants around Merseyside can now apply to buy their home after a government pilot scheme launched yesterday (25 January).

Riverside is one of five housing associations across the country now piloting the new Voluntary Right to Buy initiative ahead of a national roll out later this year, and tenants across Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral can start taking steps to try and purchase their property.

An application process is underway and the trial will allow a limited number of sales to go ahead on a first come first served basis with Riverside tenants who meet the criteria.

Successful tenants could also receive a discount of up to £77,900 depending on the length of their tenancy.

The scheme, which was initially revealed by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement and Spending Review last November, follows an agreement by the government and the National Housing Federation to extend the Right to Buy to 1.3 million housing association tenants across the country.

The move will see proceeds from sales being reinvested in affordable housing, with a pledge under the agreement for every home sold to be replaced nationally with a new property.

Carol Matthews, Riverside’s group chief executive, says: “We know that many of our tenants aspire to own their own home and we want to help them fulfil that ambition, whilst at the same time testing out how the scheme will work ahead of it being rolled out nationally.

“The legislation that will allow this to happen is currently going through Parliament and Riverside is pleased to be one of five housing associations chosen by the government to take part in the pilot.”

Eligible applicants for Voluntary Right to Buy will have been a tenant for at least 10 years and certain types of properties, such as those which legally cannot be sold, may be excluded.

The government plans to fully introduce the initiative following the passage of the Housing and Planning Bill.

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