Deposit treatment varies
Some lenders count the Right to Buy discount as the deposit; others do not. The amount of additional cash and loan available depends on the lender’s current assessment.
Right to Buy · family mortgage support
Joint borrower sole proprietor mortgages for Right to Buy
A family member may be able to support the mortgage without buying the council home. The landlord’s sale and the lender’s loan are separate decisions, and the proposed ownership must work for both.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
The short answer
Can you use JBSP for a Right to Buy purchase?
It may be possible, but neither Right to Buy eligibility nor a relative’s income guarantees a mortgage. Under a joint borrower sole proprietor (JBSP) arrangement, someone can be liable for the mortgage without owning the property. Whether that works for your purchase depends on the landlord’s Right to Buy decision, a lender’s current policy, the property and every borrower’s circumstances.
In England, Right to Buy has rules on who can buy with the tenant. A family member who supports the mortgage as a non-owner borrower is a different person from a joint purchaser on the transfer. Do not assume permission for one role gives permission for the other. Ask the council or housing association and conveyancer to confirm the purchase names, then ask a lender or broker about the matching mortgage structure.
For the general income-support arrangement, read our JBSP mortgage guide. This page concentrates on the extra Right to Buy sale and property checks.
Two decisions, different documents
Buyer, co-purchaser or supporting borrower?
The names on the council’s sale and the names on the mortgage may serve different purposes. Set out each person’s role before applying.
| Role | On the Right to Buy sale? | Mortgage responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant purchaser | The eligible tenant buying the home, subject to the landlord’s decision. | Liable if they sign the mortgage; the lender assesses their circumstances. |
| Eligible joint purchaser | May join under the scheme rules and become an owner, if the landlord accepts the application. | Liable if they also sign the mortgage; ownership alone does not explain the whole borrowing arrangement. |
| Non-owner supporting borrower | Not an owner merely because they join the mortgage. This role needs to be compatible with the sale and lender requirements. | Potentially liable for the whole mortgage debt, despite having no ownership share. |
This is a role comparison, not confirmation that a particular landlord or lender will accept the structure. The conveyancer should check the proposed title, mortgage deed and any lender conditions.
A sensible order
How to test the purchase before committing
Confirm scheme eligibility
Ask the landlord whether the tenant has Right to Buy or a preserved right, and who may join the purchase. Submit the RTB1 application through the official route.
Read the landlord’s offer
Check the proposed buyers, price and discount in the Section 125 offer. For a leasehold flat, review estimated service charges, repairs and known building work with the conveyancer.
Check lender and borrower fit
Tell the broker exactly who will own and who will borrow. Expect income, existing commitments and credit checks for every borrower, plus a valuation and property assessment.
Agree costs and legal advice
Ask how the discount is treated, what cash and purchase costs are needed, whether separate legal advice is required and what happens if the supporter later wants to leave the mortgage.
The landlord’s published stages are not a promise of mortgage completion. Tell the adviser and conveyancer about any deadline in the offer or your circumstances.
Discount, deposit and property
What the discount does—and does not—settle
Allow for other costs
Legal work, searches, valuation or survey charges and moving costs may still need cash. Flat owners also need to understand lease terms, service charges and possible major works.
Think beyond completion
Check the conditions attached to the discount, including possible repayment on an early sale. Do not rely on a future remortgage to remove a supporting borrower automatically.
See the official Right to Buy discount rules and offer guidance for your application. Discount rules and figures can change; the offer and lender decision govern the individual purchase.
Before a relative agrees
The supporter takes on a real debt
A supporting borrower may have no ownership but can still be pursued for mortgage payments. The commitment may also affect their own borrowing capacity. Their income cannot simply be added to an application while their debts and outgoings are ignored.
Ask how the lender expects the arrangement to work as the tenant’s income changes. Releasing the supporter requires lender agreement or another completed funding arrangement; it is not automatic. The conveyancer can explain the legal documents, any need for separate advice and potential tax or estate questions. MoneyHelper explains joint debt liability.
Google reviews
Live reviews
Read feedback on the original Google profile before you enquire. Reviews describe a client’s experience; they cannot show whether your Right to Buy or mortgage application will qualify.
Check how clients describe the advice before you move forward
A Right to Buy purchase with family mortgage support involves separate landlord, lender and legal decisions. It is reasonable to see how an adviser communicates and helps clients understand their options.
We link directly to the live profile so you can read feedback in context, rather than relying on selected quotes.
Make the first conversation useful
What to tell us about your Right to Buy plan
About the purchase
Say who the tenant is, whether RTB1 has been submitted, whether you have a Section 125 offer, the price and discount if known, and whether the property is a house or flat. Mention any deadlines and known lease or building concerns.
About the proposed borrowers
Explain who would own, who might support the mortgage, broad income and existing commitments, available cash and any credit issues for each person. We can then identify what still needs checking; you do not need to send sensitive documents through a general enquiry form.
Our published Terms of Business say there is no broker fee for the initial evaluation. We explain any applicable later fees and exceptions before chargeable work. An initial conversation does not guarantee an offer or acceptance.
Common questions
Right to Buy and JBSP FAQs
Can a family member support my Right to Buy mortgage without owning the home?
Possibly. A joint borrower sole proprietor arrangement can make a supporting person liable for the mortgage without putting them on the property title. The council must agree who is buying under Right to Buy, and the lender must accept this borrowing and ownership structure for the particular property and applicants.
Is a supporting mortgage borrower the same as a joint Right to Buy purchaser?
No. A joint purchaser becomes an owner under the Right to Buy sale, subject to the scheme rules. A non-owner supporting borrower may sign the mortgage but does not acquire ownership simply by borrowing. Confirm both roles with the council, lender and conveyancer before an application is submitted.
Can the Right to Buy discount be used instead of a cash deposit?
Some lenders may treat the discount as the deposit; others may not. They can also assess the property, loan amount and applicants differently. Budget separately for legal, survey and other purchase costs, and ask a broker to check the lender’s current rules for your case.
Will adding a supporting borrower guarantee a mortgage?
No. The lender will assess all borrowers’ income, commitments and credit history, as well as the property and its own criteria. Right to Buy eligibility does not guarantee mortgage approval.
Who pays if the tenant cannot keep up the repayments?
Every mortgage borrower can be responsible for the whole debt, even if only one person owns the home. The supporting borrower should understand how this could affect their finances and future borrowing before signing.
Can the supporting borrower be removed later?
Only if the lender agrees to a change or a suitable remortgage or repayment arrangement is completed. The remaining borrower would normally need to meet the lender’s current affordability and other criteria. Do not plan on automatic release after a set period.
What if the tenant has missed payments or other bad credit?
Tell the broker about the type, amount and timing of each issue for every proposed borrower. The council’s Right to Buy decision and the lender’s mortgage decision are separate. A supporter’s stronger credit record does not erase the tenant’s record.
How long does a Right to Buy JBSP purchase take?
There is no reliable fixed completion time. The landlord’s eligibility decision and offer have statutory stages, while mortgage underwriting, valuation, legal checks and any leasehold questions have their own timescales. Share any notice or deadline with the adviser and solicitor early.
Information and official source links checked 13 October 2026. This is general information, not personal mortgage or legal advice.
Start by checking the proposed names
Tell us who the landlord has accepted as buyer, who would help with the mortgage and what stage your Right to Buy application has reached. We can discuss the checks needed before you pursue a lender.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.