Selling, renting or making alterations to your former council property
If you own an ex-council property bought from us under the Right to Buy scheme before 28 February 1997 there may be a legal restriction (known as a Section 19 or Section 157) on it. This means you may need to apply to us for consent to alter, sell or re-let your property.
For ex-council properties bought after 28 February 1997 you will need to apply to Bromford for their consent.
The restrictions can be found on the original sale paperwork from us or you can check your property deeds or access the Land Registry service (fees may apply).
Apply for consent to alter
You need to get our permission if you plan to alter the outside of the property. This could include planning permission, building regulations or works under permitted development, for example an extension, porch or outbuilding.
Application To Alter Updated - pdf - 119 Kb
Selling and marketing your ex-council property
You need to market the property to local people for eight weeks before we will consider an application to sell it to a person who does not automatically qualify for it. This allows local people more time to make arrangements to buy or let these properties before they can be offered on the open market.
1. Tell your estate agent about the restriction
Details of the restriction need to be clearly advertised in the marketing details to reduce the risk of the sale falling through because we will not give consent. For further details and wording see our guidance notes.
2. Inform our Land Legal and Property Team
Once you have appointed estate agents you will need to email or write to us to let us know:
- Your name
- The estate agent details
- Full address of the property to be marketed
- When the marketing will start
- Provide a link to the marketing material online (ie. Right Move / Zoopla)
- Details of alterations to the property as detailed above
You can email aonb.consents@cotswold.gov.uk or post to Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GLOS, GL7 1PX.
We will then advertise the property for eight weeks.
3. Once you have a potential buyer or tenant
If your buyer or tenant has lived or worked in the Gloucestershire or Cotswolds AONB continually for three years immediately before the proposed purchase you do not need to wait until the eight weeks is up. They will need to complete an application form and send it to aonb.consents@cotswold.gov.uk.
4. If the buyer or tenant does not meet the criteria
We send the completed application form to the relevant Councillors to consider. They may give consent for the sale after the initial eight week marketing period or ask for more information.