Council rules

daffodiltulip

Does any one know what the rules are regarding being a council tenant and buying another property?

Running_Horse

Please be more specific.

RobertoMoir

You buy a house, you move from your council house into your new house, you're not a council tenant any more?

As running horse says, you need to be a bit more specific.

Jowo_2

I'm assuming the post is about a council tenant who wishes to keep their social housing tenancy when they've brought a buy to let property?

I am aware that if a council tenant moves out of their property, they usually breach the terms of it and are expected to hand it back to the council to relet. This is because the property is usually let on a contract which makes clear that it is the primary residence of the tenants named on it and cannot be transfered to others without the knowledge and consent of the social housing landlord. A council will seek possession of a property that's been illegally sublet by their tenants to others.

I am aware that owner occupiers can apply to go on the social housing waiting lists but will inevitably be the lowest priority band and unlikely to be allocated a property. Virtually anyone can apply for social housing, few get it. A council can't reject a housing application from an owner-occupier but realistically isn't going to accommodation someone who has no housing need whatsoever.

But I am not aware of any restrictions that prevent a council tenant from buying an investment property or holiday home, for example - there could be a moral question over continuing to occupy a scarce resource when they are clearly no longer in housing need - but I'm not aware of any legislation that prevents a social housing tenant from purchasing a buy to let property. I could be wrong on this score, so don't count on my advice.

Nosht

As long as there is no Housing Benefit Claim then there is no problem.

N.

dander

It is certainly fraud to to buy somewhere, move out and sublet your council property without telling the council, and if you do tell them, they probably won't give you permission. If you own the property while applying for the councili house, then you either have to lie about owning it - then it's fraud - and get the council house or tell the truth and be bottom of the llist as noted above. If you buy somewhere else, while already in a secure tenancy and continue to live in your council place, then it's less clear cut. Some councils do not allow this but others do not have a rule in place for it.

I'd certainly say it is morally dubious to do it though, when you think of how many people are desperate to get a council house and are in real need.