Open Market Purchase Scheme

There is a huge demand for affordable housing in Moray.  Our open market purchase scheme, partly funded by the Scottish Government, will help us increase our housing stock and meet housing need across Moray.  It means we can buy properties that are for sale on the open market, or before they are put on the open market.

We are particularly interested in, but not limited to, the following properties:

  • ex-council houses that were bought through the old Right to Buy scheme;
  • where you are a private owner or a registered landlord in a high-demand area (as informed by our current housing list), or own the only private property in a block of flats, or a street, where all the other properties are owned by the council;
  • where the property is in an area of demand for that type and size of property;
  • where the property meets a specialist housing need of households, which is not currently available in our council stock, for example, homes suitable for people with specific disabilities or individual needs;
  • where the purchase will bring an empty property back into occupation;
  • properties suitable for larger families (3 or more bedrooms).

What is the eligibility criteria for the scheme?

We will only consider properties that meet the following criteria.  The property must:

  • be privately owned; and
  • have a current home report produced within the last three months, paid for by the seller; and
  • have all statutory consents for any structural works completed such as a Building Warrant; and
  • meet our value for money model.  This means the combined cost of buying the property and bringing it up to our required statutory and letting standards would represent value for money within the council's budget; and
  • not make you, or anyone staying with you, homeless.  We will not consider any property where a tenant has to leave the property to progress the sale.  The property must be sold with vacant possession and be empty at the time of completion.  The owner, residents and/or any tenants will be responsible for their own re-housing arrangements.

In certain specific circumstances we will consider purchasing properties with sitting private sector tenants.  We will only do this to prevent the tenants from becoming homeless.  The following additional criteria applies:

  • the tenant must have presented as homeless to our Housing Options Team prior to the landlord approaching the Council.  Our Housing Options Team will consider whether it is appropriate to make a referral to the scheme; and
  • the size of the property must match the needs of the household as set out in our Allocations Policy.  For example, we will not purchase a 2+ bedroom property to prevent the homelessness of a single person household or couple, and we will not purchase a property which would result in overcrowding for the sitting tenant.

What are the benefits of the scheme?

You will not need to:

  • pay estate agent fees;
  • worry about a selling chain;
  • arrange viewings or have multiple viewers - only one visit from a surveyor;
  • decorate the property for selling; and
  • feel obliged to accept any offer we make.

How to apply

Before you apply, please note that:

  • you must have a current home report.  Our online application process will ask you to upload a copy of the valid home report for your property at the time you submit your application.  If you do not have a current home report, you will not be able to submit an application.
  • our standard terms include a £5,000 retention from the purchase price.  The retention will be held for up to a maximum of 10 working days and released if there are no issues identified at the post-handover inspection.

You can apply by filling in our online Open Market Purchase Application Form.

If you would rather fill in a paper form and send it to us, you can print off our Open Market Purchase Application Form.

We will use the information given by you to assess your application.  We will then contact you within a week to let you know if your property meets the criteria.  If you are not able to fill in our online form or print off a paper form, please email HousingStrategy@moray.gov.uk for more advice. 

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