lift open market shared equity scheme

triggerhappy_2

Yeah. I just wish I'd known about it earlier, but I only first heard about it at the end of August. Got my form in ASAP but not quick enough obviously.

rhodod

did they tell you where you are on the list?

triggerhappy_2

rhodod wrote: »

did they tell you where you are on the list?

No - do they normally?

The letter I got was a standard letter that said pretty much the same thing as the e-mail I got a few days before when I enquired about the status of my application. No mention of where I might be in the list. This is the e-mail:

Thank you for your query. We received your application on the 5th October 2009 for the Glasgow area, this has been the most popular area for the West region. Applications are dealt with in date order received and by priority groups detailed below. We have received confirmation that the funds have now been allocated for the West region.

The LIFT scheme has been running since April 2009 and has proved to be very popular and successful in the West Region. Due to the high level of demand the scheme is now oversubscribed. The scheme can only support a certain number of applicants due to budgetary constraints. The fixed funding available for this financial year has now been allocated. Link Homes may be able to issue further approvals to the scheme if applicants withdraw from the scheme or additional funding is agreed. The Scottish Government has requested that current social renters and current armed forces personnel or veterans are given priority for remaining funds.

As stated in the Scottish Government brochure-‘ It is important that you are aware that there are limited funds available to the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot and that a limited number of applications will be approved at any one time.’

Your details will be kept on file for the West region waiting list for next year. You will be sent a letter confirming this through the post shortly.

If the scheme runs next year and we are the administrators of the scheme, we will be advised by the Scottish government of how to proceed. If it runs it will start in April and we should know around February/ March whether it will run again.

We will more than likely write to people once we know either way, however we keep our website updated and you can check updates on this.

rhodod

I did most of mine over the phone, i have lived at this rented apartment through the APH for over 2 years now but only my partners name was on the tenancy agreement, so in order for me to become prioirity i had to be a tenant, so we spoke with the local representive for AHP and she printed of a new tenancy agreement for me to sign and that was all done and above order.

i would phone them, they are really nice and helpful and will let you know exactly whats going on.

The estate agent person i spoke to told me she had many people told they werent getting any funds and then weeks later they were getting funds.

I dont wanna get your hopes up but i would ring and make sure, and find out once and for all if you have or not as its not ncie them telling you one thing and then changing there mind.

weesie81

thats very good news :T rhodod

trigger give them a ring to check where you are on list etc i am sure many people will not use their passports.....we almost didn't and you may get funding that way.

as for us we hope to move 7 weeks tomorrow :j

rhodod

quick update

received my passport on 24.12.09

letter states my 12 weeks start from 11th of december, yet the employee at grampian housing told me it was sent out on the 21st of decemeber so i have less time that i should.

also ive been told the maximoum for the area im looking at is £95,000 - £100,000 and has to be a 3 bedroom house. For that i will be lucky to get a 2 bedroom house up in aberdeenshire.

the system is a joke.

Cant even ring to ask whats going on as they are closed till 5th so by the time they open up it will be 4 weeks into my 12 weeks

weesie81

our passport expired on xmas eve and we did not get the full 12 weeks either :rolleyes:

as for the money side of things look at things that have been for sale for a while or need a fair bit of decorating and do not be afraid to make offers.
the house we are buying is empty sellers have already moved,originally back in sep / oct when we got the letter they said £160k then in nov it was brought down to £150k and we offered £141k but that was refused and we were told if we offered £144k it was ours!

i was starting to lose faith and thought ours was going to expire, so don't give up and good luck.

rhodod

So you are all sorted?

I will keep looking, if they could up the max price range to 120k it wouldnt be a problem, but trying to buy a 3 bedroom house for 100k isnt gonna be easy, but according to scottish ministers thats the max set for a 3 bedroom house in aberdeenshire.

were you given a limit ? ours is between £95,000 & £100,000

weesie81

Off the top of my head i am sure the limit for a 5 apartment in our area was £160k and we could go up to a 6 apt property as we have 3 children.

The main problem we faced was that most properties were open plan so a lounge/diner etc and that missing wall caused us no end of hassle!
We basically needed a 3 bed house with a living room and another area eg dining room that could be counted as an apartment incase your family grows in the future.
You do know its apartments that lift work in and not bedrooms,and that you can go 1 apt size above what you actually need?
Clearly if you find a property with that extra apt space your ceiling limit goes up one band if that makes sense?

Loft conversions & extensions only count if they have full planning and completion certificates, conservatories (no matter how big) do not count as an apartment.
its basically any area 6m squared that is not a kitchen, hallway or bathroom.

Things have slowed down here with our purchase for the xmas period so last we heard before our solicitors closed was he was concluding missives,if it all goes to plan we hope to have our keys for 5th feb which is 5 weeks tomorrow :T

If i can be of any help please ask away i had help from others on this thread who have now moved or are in the process of moving in

rhodod

Okay our housing officer who deals with this is a tad bit dumb to be honest.

Asking me qurstions about the scheme when im suppose to be asking her.

we seena propert we like, its a 3 bedroom house with 1 lounge and 1 dining room.

so would we be allowed to go for it? there is me, my fiance and our 2 kids, boy and girl

thanks