Assets of community value and the community right to bid

What are assets of community value and the community right to bid? 

The assets of community value and the community right to bid allows communities to identify properties that are valuable to their social interests or wellbeing. It gives them a fair chance to bid to buy the property if the owner decides to sell. Currently only eligible community groups, local parish councils, local neighbourhood planning forums and charities can nominate. 

Making a bid  

• eligibility: Not all groups that can nominate are eligible to bid. Unincorporated groups cannot bid as they cannot legally own property
• notification: The property owner must inform us when they intend to sell. This will be publicised on our website and the nominator will be informed 
• bid process: Interested groups must inform us within six weeks of notification of a property being available to purchase*. You will then have six months to put together the bid. Multiple interested groups are encouraged to collaborate. *Please note, this is not from when you inform us but six months from when the owner advises us of their intention to sell (this is known as the moratorium period) 
• negotiations: Groups can negotiate with the property owner anytime within the six months, providing the owner is willing. We should be kept informed of any developments
• outcome: At the end of the moratorium period, if you have successfully put a bid together, the owner can either accept your bid or sell the property on the open market

Making a nomination  

Eligibility: To nominate, your community group must be able to answer yes to the following questions:  

• do you have a local connection to the property you are wishing to nominate? 
• are you an unincorporated community group with at least 21 members who are registered to vote in the Hartlepool area, a parish council, charity, industrial & provident society, local neighbourhood forum, company limited by guarantee or community interest company?  

Nomination form: To nominate you must complete a Nomination Form, which includes the property address, details of the owner, the extent of the site and why you feel it is an asset of community value.  

You must also provide evidence to support your nomination and that you are eligible to nominate.  

Details of the evidence required can be found on the Qualifying Criteria Assessment. 

Once completed, both documents should be returned to Strategic Asset Management at estates@hartlepool.gov.uk