defendant the council sent the claimant Gibson a letter stating that the council may be prepared to sell the house to you at the purchase price of £ 2725 if you would like to make a formal application to buyer Council house please complete the form and return it to me as soon as possible Mr Gibson completed and returned the form in the meanwhile Council then changed its policy on the sale of council houses Gibson was advised that the council was unable to proceed with his application because of this change in the policy Gibson brought the action claiming that the council's letter was an offer which he had accepted by returning the application form House of Lords emphasized the fact that council's letter stated that they may be prepared to sell and invited Gibson to make a formal application to buy the council never intended the letter to allow Mr Gibson to create a binding agreement between them and simply meant to inform him that they may be willing to sell to him if he made an offer