The Right to Buy scheme helps eligible council and housing association tenants in England buy their homes and gives tenants a discount on the open market.
You may feel that what your landlord thinks is the full market value of your home is too high. If so, you have a right to obtain an independent valuation from the District Valuer. Before doing so, you must tell the landlord, within 3 months of receiving the Section 125 notice, that you want a ‘determination of value’ under Section 128 of the Housing Act 1985
You then have 4 weeks to put your case to the District Valuer. You will not have to pay for this service.
A District Valuer will then need to inspect your home. The District Valuer’s valuation will be the one that counts, even if it is higher than the landlord’s valuation.
You will have to accept it or withdraw your application to buy your home unless you or your landlord meet the criteria to request a review of the District Valuer's determination.
A review can only be requested if there has been a significant factual error in the determination, or the District Valuer did not consider representations made by the tenant or the landlord in relation to the determination.
Both landlord and tenant have 28 days to request a redetermination in writing to the district valuer. Once an appeal has been submitted the district valuer has 14 days to advise whether they will be carrying out a redetermination.