Dundee City Council today advised tenants to be on their guard if they were approached by anyone offering to act as agents for the right to buy scheme.

A council spokesman said: "We have been made aware that tenants have been canvassed by a firm who charge £50 to complete right to buy forms.

"We would like to make it clear to our tenants that the council does not canvass its tenants over right to buy and any services that it provides in relation to the scheme are free.

"The housing department has been told of one vulnerable family who were visited by a company which convinced them to apply to buy their home, despite the fact they could not afford a mortgage and did not fully understand the implications of what they had signed for.

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"Our advice to any tenant who is contacted by any firm offering its services for right to buy is to contact the council. We do not charge people for filling in forms or providing guidance."

Housing convener Councillor Jimmy Black said: "Why pay for this when you can get the same service free from the city council? We would also strongly recommend that anyone thinking about buying their house should take independent advice from a solicitor. "Buying is the right choice for some people, but not everyone. When you buy your house you become responsible for roof repairs, replacing your kitchen, maintaining your heating system ... as a council tenant these things are all included in the rent. So good advice about budgeting and the real cost of home-ownership is essential. The tenancy of a good quality council house is too valuable to give up lightly."

(GK)