FOI release

Right To First Refusal on RTB homes

Case reference FOI2026/00195

Received 3 February 2026

Published 4 February 2026

Request

I understand that since August 2005, owners of homes sold under Right To Buy rules within 10 years have had to apply to the council for a right of first refusal. Under this Statutory Instrument: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1917/made I would like to ask how many homeowners have told the council of their intention to sell since the rules came into force on August 10 2005 to the date this request is received. I would like this data broken down by calendar year, if possible. I would also like to ask how many times the council exercised its Right To First Refusal (as under Section 156 A of the Housing Act 1985) for each year between 2005 to the date this request is received, broken down by calendar year. If the data is not available from August 10, 2005, please provide it from as far back as you are able to, to the date this request is received.

Response

The Council transferred its housing stock to Town and Country Housing Group in 1992.

The Council has not therefore been involved in any "right to buy" transactions.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.