Plans by Aberdeenshire Council to introduce the measure have taken a step forward after members of the Social Work and Housing Committee agreed to submit a detailed bid to the Scottish Government for Pressured Area Status (PAS) in some parts of the region.
The areas identified as 'under pressure' in the Mearns are Gourdon, Inverbervie, Johnshaven, Laurencekirk and Auchenblae - where there are a least seven people waiting for every home available.
Across Aberdeenshire as a whole, the waiting list for social housing stands at 7,000.
Council leader Anne Robertson said the current situation was "unsustainable" and the authority claims that surveys conducted among tenants revealed wide support for the move.
If granted by the Scottish Government, the measures would affect all tenants who moved into their home after September 30, 2002, and those who take up a tenancy in future.
The right to buy would be suspended for five years but at the end of this period, the council could apply for an extension if there are still shortages of social rented housing.
Chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee Gurudeo Saluja said: "This is one of many things that Aberdeenshire Council is doing to help those in housing need in this area.
"This will be another tool to help us protect and increase the supply of affordable housing for rent in Aberdeenshire."
Ms Robertson added: "We do hope we achieve Pressured Area Status because that will allow us to deal with chronic shortages in the affordable housing market in the future, although it won't solve the problem completely."