GrantRadar

London Borough of Harrow

Grants to Move Scheme

A discretionary Harrow Council grant for secure council tenants who want to buy a home and give up their council tenancy, freeing the property for families in urgent need. The council pays a percentage of the purchase price (or of the share bought under shared ownership) to the tenant's solicitor on completion. The grant is secured by a legal charge for ten years and must be repaid in full if the home is sold or transferred in that time. Funding is limited.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £30,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Secure tenants of the London Borough of Harrow who have held their secure tenancy for at least 5 years (not an extended introductory tenancy), where the council home is their only home and main residence
  • Tenants must not be in breach of their tenancy for anti-social behaviour, and must give full vacant possession of the council property
  • A tenant can buy with up to three family members over 18 (spouse, civil partner or wider family member who has lived in the home for at least 5 years); no more than 4 people may hold a legal interest, and joint council tenants must both be legal owners
  • Everyone with a legal interest must have the right to reside in the UK and access to public funds
  • The new home must be a permanent, settled primary home for the whole household, not overcrowded, and no member may own an interest in another property unless selling it to fund the purchase
  • Any rent arrears or debts to the council are normally deducted from the grant

What it funds

  • Buying a new-build or refurbished home, including new-build shared ownership: 5% of the value of the property or share, capped at £30,000
  • Buying a share in a non-new-build shared ownership home managed by another social landlord: 10% of the value of the share, capped at £25,000
  • Buying a property on the open market anywhere in England: 10% of the purchase price, capped at £25,000

What it will not fund

  • Costs associated with the purchase, such as search fees, surveyor's fees and administration costs
  • Buying your council home under the Right to Buy (any Right to Buy claim must be withdrawn)
  • A property outside England
  • A property too small for the household or that would cause overcrowding
  • A move that would make any member of the household homeless

How to apply

  1. Complete the online register-your-interest application form (applications are also accepted by email or post)
  2. Staff check eligibility and confirm in writing whether you qualify in principle; any Right to Buy or housing application is suspended
  3. Attend an interview about your housing options, provide proof of ID and 5 years' residency, an in-principle mortgage offer and your income and expenditure; the council inspects your council home
  4. Receive a provisional grant offer (valid for up to eight weeks) and give details of the property you intend to buy
  5. Accept the formal offer within 4 weeks and complete the purchase within 12 weeks; the grant is paid to your solicitor on completion when you hand back the keys

the council recommends independent financial advice before applying; there is no right to a grant and it is subject to availability

these steps are from the October 2025 cabinet scheme document; the current page gives different percentages for some options, and the page's figures are used above

Have ready

  • Proof of ID for all members of the household
  • Proof of residency at the address for the last 5 years
  • An in-principle mortgage offer
  • Information on income and expenditure
  • Signed tenancy termination form and statement of intent

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.