Buying an ex-council property

milliebear00001

Hi there,

We have seen a house that appears to be an ex-council property, for sale in our area and price range. It is far bigger, and has a better garden, than any other house we've seen at a comparable price. I am assuming it is a fifties/sixties built council house, although I am not 100% sure. The estate it is right on the edge of, is (I think) now housing association/private housing, and many of the 'council'-style homes seem to be privately owned now (different exteriors/doors/windows etc.

Is there anything I should be wary of when buying such a property - will it resell? The fact it's on the market for a lowish price, suggests the 'area' or the fact it is ex-council, is reducing the price - but I am not sure which it is. The area is fine, and the house is on the very edge of the estate, which itself seems very quiet (although I will drive around it at night to be sure too).

Any thoughts/advice?

skintchick

We are also buying an ex-council house, also on the edge of the housing, and it is cheap because it is ex-council - they have a stigma. you will be able to resell, but not at the same price as a non-ex-council house, but then as you are buying cheaper, that shouldn;t be an issue.

Do check the area out properly though if you don;t already know it well - make sure there's no trouble on street corners, etc.

milliebear00001

Thanks Skintchick. The house is set a little way apart from the rest of the estate, on a private road with only four houses. These all look privately owned and are well-maintained. I live around the corner, but don't know the estate especially well. It is very small though, and there isn't much trouble in our town at all, so i think it would be a safe bet. I will, as you suggest, make sure I check it out at all times of the day/week!

datostar

I find a bit strange that there should be a stigma attached to ex-Council houses. Certainly post-1961 many were built to Parker Morris standards of construction, living space and storage space and if looked after can be better than contemporanous private builds. Even the illustrious Mayor of London has recently said that he would like to see a return to those standards instead of the tiny hutches currently being built in London. Obviously location is a factor but that applies to any property. I don't think there's anything intrinsically wrong with the houses from that era.

poppy_f1

the house i bought was ex council, its a lot bigger house space wise compared to the newer houses in my area - also my garden is massive in comparison

ERICS_MUM

My parents bought an ex council house ages ago as cash buyers. When my mum came to sell it years later she found that it was not easy for potential buyers to get a mortgage because it was classified as "non-standard" construction - it was not brick-built but had a metal frame with some sort of interior and exterior plasterboard forming the walls. SO, best to check before you commit yourselves, that your bank will lend you the money for this specific house.

Linda

jockosjungle

Just in the process of buying an ex-council house as well, I suppose there is a stigma attached to them but at the same time I'm getting a 3 bed house with a decent garden for £62k, you get a lot of house for your money. I have friends who have lived in the area and told me its ok, some areas can be really bad I suppose. The house we bought was on the market for a year (not realisticaly priced in my opinion) but eventually these will be the only houses people can afford so we'll be quids in when we sell them

R

lincroft1710

datostar wrote: »

I find a bit strange that there should be a stigma attached to ex-Council houses. Certainly post-1961 many were built to Parker Morris standards of construction, living space and storage space and if looked after can be better than contemporanous private builds. Even the illustrious Mayor of London has recently said that he would like to see a return to those standards instead of the tiny hutches currently being built in London. Obviously location is a factor but that applies to any property. I don't think there's anything intrinsically wrong with the houses from that era.

It's not usually the construction of the house (unless it is non traditional, defective or substandard) but the location that is often the stigma.

Boris making a statement which is sensible, logical and not offensive? Which publication did he read it in before committing it to memory?

Fly_Baby

We are lookimg to buy in the area with a couple of ex-council - or still council-owned - streets. And yet it is an area with the two best state schools in our town. I rent an ex-council house now and would just love to buy the same one, if one comes up for sale. Priately owned houses in the same area are much smaller and dearer at that - I really don't see the point.

skintchick

datostar wrote: »

I find a bit strange that there should be a stigma attached to ex-Council houses. Certainly post-1961 many were built to Parker Morris standards of construction, living space and storage space and if looked after can be better than contemporanous private builds. Even the illustrious Mayor of London has recently said that he would like to see a return to those standards instead of the tiny hutches currently being built in London. Obviously location is a factor but that applies to any property. I don't think there's anything intrinsically wrong with the houses from that era.

It's not the houses, but the possibility of hideous chav neighbours! Let's face it, some council tenants can be blooming awful (and some are lovely).

andrewmp

skintchick wrote: »

It's not the houses, but the possibility of hideous chav neighbours! Let's face it, some council tenants can be blooming awful (and some are lovely).

That can happen anywhere now though. I live in an ex council house and both my neighbours own their houses and are ok.

My friend lives in a house which was always private, he has neighbours from hell DSS tenants.