Community Right to Bid

What is the Community Right to Bid?

The Community Right to Bid allows community interest groups to nominate local land or buildings to be included in the Council's list of assets of community value. When a listed asset is to be sold, community interest groups will have the opportunity to make a bid to buy the asset on the open market.

An asset of community value is a building or piece of land that furthers the social wellbeing or interests of the community, or did so in the recent past.

Examples of community assets include:

• village shop
• pub
• community centre
• library
• playing fields

If you list an asset of community value, it gives the community an opportunity to make a bid for the asset if/when it comes up for sale. 

Who can nominate?

Community organisations can nominate assets to be listed. They and their activities should have a local connection.

These include:

• parish and town councils
• neighbourhood forums
• community groups with at least 21 local members (members must appear on the Hart electoral register; address details will be required)
• not-for-profit organisations e.g. charities

What happens once an asset is listed?

We will place it on a register of successful and unsuccessful nominations on our website.

We will inform the local community if an asset is put up for sale within the five-year listing period. After this time, a new nomination can be made.

Community interest groups then have the opportunity to ‘pause’ the sale for six months so they can prepare to bid for it. This is known as the ‘community right to bid’. 

The owner can’t sell the property within this six-month period. At the end of this time, they still have the right to sell to whomever they choose. 

How to nominate an asset of community value

If you would like to nominate a building and/or land, please complete our online form. 

Nominate an asset of community value

Alternatively you can complete the assets of community value pdf.

You will need to provide sufficient evidence to support your nomination. This should include:

• a description of the land or building, including a location plan and a copy of the land registry entry
• information about the owners and/or occupiers of the land or building
• Information about how the nominated asset furthers the social well-being/interests of the local community and plans for future activities,
• if the asset is no longer in use, details of when it was last in use and plans for future activities

When we receive a nomination, we will assess whether sufficient details have been provided before consulting with owners and occupiers. Owners of these assets have the right to appeal a decision to list their property as an asset of community value.

Further information

Please view the understanding the community right to bid guide.