House purchase grants

The House Purchase Grant is a scheme to help council tenants to buy their own home in the private sector and to release rented housing for people who are in housing need.

How it works

If you qualify,we will give you a cash grant to help you buy a home of your own anywhere in the UK or one of the European Union member states e.g. Southern Ireland, France etc.

The grant money may also be used towards the cost of providing additional accommodation to an existing property (e.g. granny annex or loft conversion). A new addition to this scheme is that you can now use the grant as a deposit towards a Shared Ownership property. Further details may be obtained from the Home Ownership Team.

To qualify for a grant you must register with the Home Ownership Team. As part of the registration process there will be a financial assessment. There are two reasons for this assessment, firstly to show that you could not afford to buy your new home without the aid of the grant, secondly to make sure that you do not over commit yourself financially.

Who is eligible?

You must have been a secure tenant for at least 2 years and occupy a council property.

Grant levels depend on the size of your present home and the length of your tenancy.

Funds are on a limited basis, in the event of a heavy demand for grants, preference will be given to those tenants occupying properties with three or four bedrooms or those tenants registered with the Housing Department for a Management Transfer.

Qualifying tenancies

When calculating the length of your tenancy we will include:

Your current and any previous secure Wandsworth Council tenancy
A secure tenancy with another council
A secure tenancy with a Housing Association

How to register

You must fill in a main application form and return it to the Home Ownership Team at the address shown below.

We will acknowledge your application and inform you of the level of grant you may be able to have within 10 working days. If you have not heard anything within that time you should contact us.

This acknowledgement does not mean there is money set aside for you as grant funds will not be reserved until you have found a property (this is subject to funding availability).

You must not start looking for a property before receiving this acknowledgement letter from the Home Ownership Team.

Further information

For further information on the House Purchase Grant (Portable Discount) Scheme or if you wish to discuss the scheme further, please telephone us on 020 8871 6017/8171 or call into Room 44 in the Town Hall between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Home Ownership Team
Wandsworth Council
Room 44 (Ground Floor)Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 2PU

Telephone: 020 8871 6017/8171