How to buy a LAHC house

How to buy one of our homes

You can apply to buy one of our properties if:

• you are renting the house or unit and are the head tenant on the lease
• you can show you have, or can borrow, the funds to buy the house or unit at market value
• you have paid the correct rent for the past 5 years
• you don’t owe any rent at the time you apply.

Download the tenant purchase application form

Step 1 – Research the market value of the home

When we sell our properties, we do so at market value. So you will need to do some research to find out how much the property you are living in is likely to sell for. T

You can look online to research recent sale prices for homes in your area with the same number of bedrooms. You can also ask local real estate agents.

Step 2 – Make sure you have enough funds to buy the home

Before you lodge your application, make sure you have enough money to buy the home, usually by combining your savings with a loan from a bank or other financial institution.

You will need a loan pre-approval from a bank or lender and/or proof of savings.

When combined, these will need to equal the market value of similar properties in the area plus home purchase costs like stamp duty.

Step 3 – Apply to buy the home

To apply:

• download and complete the tenant purchase application form
• provide evidence of funds to buy the home; for example, a loan pre-approval and/or bank statement showing your savings. Together, these must equal the market value of similar properties in your area and any home purchase costs
• pay $220 by money order, bank cheque or electronic payment as a contribution towards the Land and Housing Corporation’s (LAHC’s) costs to have an independent valuation completed for the home (this usually involves a valuer visiting the home).

LAHC’s details for electronic bank payments are:
Bank account name: NSW Land and Housing Corporation
Account Number: 170622
BSB: 032 001
Ref: (your rental account number)

Lodge your application (together with your bank cheque or money order for $220 if you aren’t paying it electronically) by post to:

Attention of Commercial
NSW Land and Housing Corporation
4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street
Parramatta NSW 2150

OR

Submit your application online via our Contact us page.

Step 4 – We consider the application

After we receive your application, we will confirm your rent is up to date and the information you have provided about your tenancy and any co-applicants is accurate.

If we need more information, we will contact you. We will also let you know if you haven’t been successful in proving you can afford to buy the home.

If your application meets our criteria, we then decide if it makes sense for us to keep the property you’d like to buy. For example, if the house or unit is very well located near shops and services, we may want to keep it so it is available as social housing for others in future.

• If we approve the sale of the home, we will let you know in writing and make an offer at a fixed price.
• If we decide not to sell it, we will let you know in writing and refund the $220 fee. If you are not happy with this decision, you can request a review within 4 weeks of being notified of the decision.

Step 5 – Buy the home

If we approve the sale and you decide to buy the home, you will need to:

• accept and sign the letter of offer
• arrange your own conveyancer/solicitor to help you with the buying process
• send your signed offer letter and the name and contact details of your conveyancer/ solicitor to us within 30 days of the date of the letter of offer.

Your conveyancer/solicitor will then work with our legal team to complete the conveyancing process up until settlement.

More information

Email us via our Contact us page.

Download our Tenant Purchase of a LAHC Social House Fact Sheet (PDF, 99.23 KB)

Read our Tenant Purchase of a LAHC Social House Policy (PDF, 360.25 KB)