can you privately buy a council house

peachyprice

lilmissclass wrote: »

i wasnt looking to be a tenant - i want to buy it and live there

Tough. Social housing is for people who need it, not for people who can go buy their own house.

Social housing in this country is in a dire state due to RTB, there just aren't enough houses to go around for people who are unable to buy.

For you to even imagine there's a chance you can buy this house just because it's your 'dream house' is laughable.

hundredk

lilmissclass wrote: »

I grew up in my grandmothers house which was a council house.

It was a long time ago - 20odd years. My grandmother has since past on, and ive heard the house is still a council house with people living in it.

I dont even know if this is possible, so please excuse it if it sounds dumb...
But would there be anyway either now or in the future I would be able to buy it?

Also how would i check for definite that is still a council house?

Assuming it is still a council house, to be in a position to buy the house you would have to (a) get yourself on the council list to become a tenant (you have to be tenant to have right to buy), (b) wait the appropriate amount of time until a property becomes available (this could be years depending on circumstances), (c) get the people in your grandmothers old house to agree to exchange with your property (so you become the tenant), (d) then apply to buy under right to buy (after you have been a tenant for either 2 or 5 years). So probably quite unlikely as the house is someone elses.

If it is private you could just make the owners an offer, see what they say.

You can check if the house has been sold after 2000 by looking on sites such as http://www.ourproperty.co.uk/

carolt

If it's no longer a council house eg someone else bought it under Right to Buy, then you can buy it as you would any other house - provided the vendor wants to sell.

If it's still a council house - not a hope in hell.

madmackhunter

Can ANYONE awnser this question?
5 years ago i did a right to buy.
because i sold it within the first year,i had to pay back the council £30,000.
I heard on the radio a couple of months ago an action group was being started to try to claim most or part of this back,from people that did the same as me.
Any suggestions?
I heard it was an illegal practice?
many thanks mack

lincroft1710

madmackhunter - the reason that councils ask for payback is to stop former tenants making a quick buck from RTB. Obviously some sales wthin time limit are due to unforseen circumstances. Some councils will insist property is sold back to them or at least be given first refusal.

I cannot see how this is illegal. The idea of RTB was for existing tenant to continue living in his home but owning rather than renting. He buys his house at lower than market value, so if he decides to move soon after purchase, why should he make a profit at council's expense. Councils are obliged to provide social housing (although in some areas housing associations have taken over councils' housing stock) and if housing stock is diminishing they have to finance new stock via council tax payer and rental income.

madmackhunter

lincroft.
many thanks for your response.
Im not sure so im going to ring a no win no fee housing solicitors tomorrow.
From what i can gather the radio station presenter was saying about people that had to sell quickly i.e for personal reasons ect,situations,
felt that there was no grey areas with the right to buy section.
obviously peoples circumstances changed like mine did dramatically after purchasing.
When i wrote to them explaining the situation they were absolutley stringant,no negotiation whatsoever.
So i kind of understand where the reports coming from 30k is a lot of money to lose.

ILW

madmackhunter wrote: »

lincroft.
many thanks for your response.
Im not sure so im going to ring a no win no fee housing solicitors tomorrow.
From what i can gather the radio station presenter was saying about people that had to sell quickly i.e for personal reasons ect,situations,
felt that there was no grey areas with the right to buy section.
obviously peoples circumstances changed like mine did dramatically after purchasing.
When i wrote to them explaining the situation they were absolutley stringant,no negotiation whatsoever.
So i kind of understand where the reports coming from 30k is a lot of money to lose.

I would suggest you did not lose £30k. You just did not make a quick £30k.

madmackhunter

regardless, i will call a solicitor for free advice tomorrow.
many thanks for your help and opinions!!

RobertoMoir

madmackhunter wrote: »

lincroft.
So i kind of understand where the reports coming from 30k is a lot of money to lose.

You're saying you sold it for the same price you paid the council, and then had to give them 30k of that? I can see why that would be upsetting yes.

ILW

RobertoMoir wrote: »

You're saying you sold it for the same price you paid the council, and then had to give them 30k of that? I can see why that would be upsetting yes.

Cannot be sure but that does not appear to be the case.