right to buy council house

BLT_2

plainozzie wrote: »

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

Hopefully he doesn't have a right to buy his council house, if he was that committed he would have done it years ago. Put him into a home and let some more deserving case actually rent cheap property.

Another parasite wanting to make a quick buck at the cost of the taxpayer and reduce the quantity of accommodation available to the needy.

bear1969

hopefully he does if he moved in fifty years ago it wont be a special house for the elderly ,go for it ,get a house for the price it should be and not some over inflated price it should,,nt, best of luck to you mate keep it in the family don,t listen to all the jealous people who don,t have the same rights , They would do exactly the same if they were in your shoes look after number 1 as no-one else will

sammyjammy

BLT wrote: »

Hopefully he doesn't have a right to buy his council house, if he was that committed he would have done it years ago. Put him into a home and let some more deserving case actually rent cheap property.

Another parasite wanting to make a quick buck at the cost of the taxpayer and reduce the quantity of accommodation available to the needy.

Put him into a home? OMG words fail me :mad: How dare you speak like that about another human being.

Fire_Fox

plainozzie wrote: »

He doesnt want to sell the house and isnt wanting to buy to make a taxpayer funded profit - he has simply said he wants to buy the house as he has always lived in it and would like to leave it to the grandchildren to occupy in years to come (keep it in the family he says) - he says he has looked into pros and cons and its his choice and in his words why should he be made to feel like a criminal just for asking.

I am actually going with him next time he goes so will get a better idea of whats going on but my original question was does he actually still have the right to buy if he wants to ?

Sounds to me like the council think you want to buy the house to take advantage of the RTB. You going to his next appointment will only fuel that suspicion. If he or his wife need residential care the house may be sold or a charge put on it so it will have to be sold after their death. You also cannot buy a council house and then transfer it to someone else within three/ five (forget which) years without having to pay back the discount. Basically if they need care or don't survive many more years you are throwing money down the drain with legal and estate agents fees.