Before your application form is processed
Before your application form is processed a check is carried out by Revenue Services to ensure you have no Council Tax or rent arrears.
If you have Council Tax or rent arrears your application will be refused. If you repay all sums due then you may re-apply immediately. However, the Council recommends you check the payment has been processed before you submit another application to avoid disappointment as your application will not be processed if there is a balance on your account.
If you do not have Council Tax or rent arrears you will receive a letter of acknowledgement advising you when you will receive an offer of sale. If you do not receive a letter of acknowledgement within seven days of the date of applying then contact the House Sales Unit immediately as this may mean your application has not be received.
Offer of sale
You will receive an offer of sale two months from the date of application. This date is on the letter of acknowledgement you will receive.
It is therefore useful to retain the letter of acknowledgement for your information purposes. The Council is required by law to furnish you with an offer of sale within two months and whilst every effort is made to ensure you receive the offer of sale in the quickest possible time it is not always possible to give you an offer of sale any earlier. If you have not received the offer of sale on or prior to the date indicated in your acknowledgement letter then contact the House Sales Unit at the address, telephone number or email address shown below immediately.
Accepting the offer of sale
When you receive the offer of sale the Council strongly recommends you seek independent legal advice from a solicitor. The Council is unable to give you any such legal advice. You have one month from the date of the offer of sale to make any changes to the terms of it. You have a period of two months from the date of the offer of sale to accept it if you do not want to change the terms.
When the offer of sale has been accepted the title deeds of your home will be prepared and sent to your solicitor. Your solicitor will thereafter consult you on the terms thereof and discuss the plan of your property also sent to him at that time.
When the title deeds have been prepared your solicitor will also arrange for you to sign all the necessary documentation.
When the documentation has been signed your solicitor will furnish Falkirk Council with the purchase price in exchange for the title deeds. The Council will not contact you to advise this has happened so it is important to stay in contact with your solicitor to ensure you cease making your rent payments when the purchase price has been paid. You must continue to pay your rent until the purchase price has been paid as you are still a tenant.