House Sales Scheme (Northern Ireland)

Description

Northern Ireland's version of Right to Buy, open to Housing Executive secure tenants. Five years' tenancy earns a 20% discount on the market value, rising 2% for each further year up to a maximum of 60% or £24,000 — whichever is lower, which makes the cash cap the binding limit on most properties. Sheltered housing, group housing schemes and certain small single-storey or ground-floor homes are excluded. The parallel scheme for housing association tenants closed in August 2022, so this is now the only statutory discounted-purchase route for social tenants in Northern Ireland.

Eligibility summary

• Available in: Northern Ireland.
• Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.

Notes

Excluded property types include sheltered housing, group housing schemes, and certain single-storey or ground-floor properties with two or fewer bedrooms. The equivalent scheme for registered housing association tenants ended at midnight on 27 August 2022 under the Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, though individual associations may run voluntary schemes at their discretion. A separate NIHE Equity Sharing route allows tenants to buy part of their home (smallest share 25%) and rent the rest — verify its current terms directly with NIHE.

Requirement

A secure tenant of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for at least five years.