right to buy council house

plainozzie

Hi

my elderly parents want to buy their council house, they have been in it for over 50 years. My father went to the council and they took him into an office and gave him what he describes as a grilling.

They kept asking why he wanted to buy at his age (88) and why would he want to buy when at the moment they dont pay much rent or rates etc. He said it made him feel very intimidated and uncomfortable because he thought he had a right to buy the house. They would not give him a value (he had requested this some weeks ago) but instead said that they would be having a meeting next week to discuss his wish to buy the house.

Is this right, does he not actually have a right to buy his council property ?? whatever the reason - surely he doesnt have to justify why he want to exercise this right ? This has really upset him as he feels as if he is doing something wrong now.

Any info would be welcome
thanks

Catblue

Has he got enough cash to buy the house?

It is just that it seems extremely unlikely he'd get a mortgage at his age.

The Right to Buy scheme has been in operation for 30 years - why did your parents wait so long before thinking of buying the house. The timing is very strange.

From your parents' point of view, it would be in their interests NOT to buy the house at their time of life - it is very unlikely that they would get any benefit from it. They'd suddenly have to start stumping up for maintenance and any modifications that the house needed in order for them to live in it if they become less mobile. Do your parents have a lot of money to do this?

plainozzie

They have wanted to do it for years and have saved a good amount, he says they want something to leave to the grandkids - he understands that its late in life but says its his choice !! They have been tenants in the house since it was built and he says he wants to keep it in the family.
It has been pointed out that it would then become their responsibility to undertake maintenance etc but he is adamant he wants to do it if he can, hes a bit upset at the way he was grilled though.

FATBALLZ

If he wants something to leave the grandkids why doesnt he leave them the money he's saved up?

27col

Weird one this! Catblue is asking all the right questions and making a sensible comment about the extra responsibility of actually owning the house you live in. I cannot think of any good reason for wanting to buy at this advanced age. Especially if they have been renting for over 50 years. A bit more info from the op would be nice.

McKneff

But does 'having saved a good amount' actually amount to being able to buy the house outright, as the other poster pointed out he would be unlikely to get a mortgage.

Go with him next time so you can hear exactly what they say.

i really dont think we're getting the full story.

FATBALLZ

27col wrote: »

Weird one this! Catblue is asking all the right questions and making a sensible comment about the extra responsibility of actually owning the house you live in. I cannot think of any good reason for wanting to buy at this advanced age. Especially if they have been renting for over 50 years. A bit more info from the op would be nice.

I suspect the idea is to enhance the savings with a taxpayer funded discount on a house so that more is left to the grandkids as a result.#

eg rather than leave £80k, turn £80k into £120k by taking £40k out of the public purse.

McKneff

FATBALLZ wrote: »

If he wants something to leave the grandkids why doesnt he leave them the money he's saved up?

Probably because every £1 cash in the bank is worth £3 in property.

DawnW

If the elderly gentleman in question had sufficient savings to buy the house, surely he would not then be entitled to benefits to cover his 'rent and rates'? I can see why the Council/ HA are asking questions TBA.

Catblue

He's saved enough to buy the house outright?

He needs to consider this carefully. I believe that if he then wanted to sell the house then he won't be able to until a certain number of years are up (if he wants to take advantage of the discount). The number of years might vary from council to council. If your parents need to go into care, then what happens to the house? You could end up selling it to fund their care and, depending on when that happens, you might have to sell it without taking advantage of the discount. The likelihood is that you'd sell at a loss (taking into account buying and selling costs).

He'd need to consider which benefits he is on at the moment (if any) and what he'd lose by being a homeowner. For example, he won't qualify for help with his rent obviously if he owns the house outright.

It just seems that him being adamant about buying the house has come at a strange time. Most 88 year olds are wanting to simplify their affairs at that age, not complicate them.

How many children does he have?

bryanb

To actually answer the question, yes he does have the right to buy. Provided that is that the tenancy is a protected one, which it will be if nothing has changed in respect of the way the tenancy is held. ie names of tenants etc. There is no reason for the council to discuss the matter - he has a right to buy - end of!
Sourcing the funds is of course his problem, and does not affect his right.
How many children he has is also irrelevant.
Of course he won't qualify for help with rent - there won't be any!
However he may still qualify for council tax rebate.