Is Shared Ownership a way of getting long term security of tenure?

chickmug

Meenu wrote: »

If you have to go on benefits the housing benefit would pay your share of the rent (this happened with a neighbour) but the mortgage would be your responsibility. My flat was new so everything came with decent guarantees, its worth going to have a chat with your local SO office or calling them to ask exactly what you need to know.

Is there such a thing as your local SO office as I am still coming across so much info on Google type of searches?

PasturesNew

poppysarah wrote: »

I suspect failiure to contiribute towards communal areas or their own property would result in being kicked out.

Owning half of it is no guarantee.

Service charges aren't always large. Especially if it's a SO house/bungalow, not a flat.

Meenu

Dear Chickmug,
I assume there is a shared housing association in most areas across the whole UK, where exactly are you looking? I will see if I can find it

chickmug

Meenu wrote: »

Dear Chickmug,
I assume there is a shared housing association in most areas across the whole UK, where exactly are you looking? I will see if I can find it

Thanks for the offer but I feel the next stage is to try and get more details - especially regarding location. Where's IN and where's OUT.

Also getting into the hard facts as to their income and whether it is viable.

Meenu

East Anglia, Luton and London.

On an unrelated note how do I make a fresh/new post? (Sorry to be a thickie)

gabyjane

We found it quite hard locating SO companys and went through our council, the HA will also deal with them. Where we live they very rare (our town we wanted anyway) and we had to always be on the lookout..there is now a site we still look at and has the propertys on and we found our house partly through this..(saw the signs for the development and went down that route too!)

Meenu if you go to the area you wish to post in..i.e housing, etc and at the top there will be 'start new post' just click on this and you will have yourslef a new thread running!!

Meenu

Thank you gabyjane

chickmug

Just to give an update I have passed on all the information to the couples daughter who is bright enough to get her teeth stuck in. One major problem was the couple did not want to worry their family, with their problems, but it reached a point where the groundwork was done and someone had to spend serious time moving the issue forward.

The idea still has merit although it would seem if the couple ever need to claim any benefits they may be caught under ther deprivation of capital rules.

An interesting twist is that they are talking about putting their furniture in store, for the summer, and having a major tour around the UK. They jokingly (I think) said perhaps they could just keep living in a touring caravan???

carefullycautious

Chickmug thats not as daft as it sounds there are many people who live in their campervans sometimes spending 6 months here and 6 months abroad. Have they though about a liveaboard narrowboat? or mobile home? not everyones cup of tea but an alternative way of life. There is lots of information on the internet re any of these options.

Do keep us informed on the outcome and decision

PasturesNew

I'd not want to be older and responsible for the safty and upkeep of a houseboat, that might sink. Nor a mobile home where the site might be sold off, or my van might be deemed not up to scratch and be given notice to quit.