Buying a council house, advice needed

ILW

It appears this discussion has nothing to do with your grandad, he is in a ideal position at the moment.
It is all about family members and that magic word "inheritance".
That is fair enough, but don't insult the old boy by pretending it is somehow doing him a favour.

jockosjungle

What will you do with the house when your grandad passes on?

If you are all chipping in, is there going to be some deal where you all get your money back if the whole family is paying?

It'll just be a house lying empty as you seem to want the house as a monument to your family rather than making any profit from a sale

R

Wee_Willy_Harris

ILW wrote: »

It appears this discussion has nothing to do with your grandad, he is in a ideal position at the moment.
It is all about family members and that magic word "inheritance".
That is fair enough, but don't insult the old boy by pretending it is somehow doing him a favour.

Could it be the prospect of recently announced (without detail) legislative changes which will disadvantage the under-occupyer? I can understand a tenant in this position being very nervous about losing their family home. If it's any comfort, the changes so far mentioned have not been fully explained by the new government, but seem to be concentrating on "working age" tenants. I would imagine that the last thing they would want to see in the press is thousands of pensioners effectively forced into homelessness, so you may well be worrying unduly.

poppysarah

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

I would imagine that the last thing they would want to see in the press is thousands of pensioners effectively forced into homelessness, so you may well be worrying unduly.

Without wanting to be blunt - in hard times, everyone will be affected.

And to be honest most old people would be better off in a well insulated, efficiently heated property rather than a house that's too big for them.

I think we need to see more tempting of the old to better suited properties. (Flats with lifts in communal areas, care and higher levels of supervision availably easily, good and cheap heating, near the facilities they need, neighbours who will chat to them...)
This would in turn free up bigger properties for families.

And I say tempting rather than force.

Wee_Willy_Harris

poppysarah wrote: »

Without wanting to be blunt - in hard times, everyone will be affected.

And to be honest most old people would be better off in a well insulated, efficiently heated property rather than a house that's too big for them.

I think we need to see more tempting of the old to better suited properties. (Flats with lifts in communal areas, care and higher levels of supervision availably easily, good and cheap heating, near the facilities they need, neighbours who will chat to them...)
This would in turn free up bigger properties for families.

And I say tempting rather than force.

I agree. And many providers do offer incentives to under-occupiers. But I can also fully understand why recent anouncements would make anyone in that position nervous (and their families as well, of course).

Giggles_Fairy

Running_Horse wrote: »

It is not a question of really strong views. It is really good advice to keep your grandad secure. Use the search function and you will see this question comes up at least once a month. The fact that the OP is usually blinded by a big discount doesn't change the fact that most elderly council tenants are better off as they are.

I didnt realise it was such a popular question. I will have a search now to find some other threads.

Giggles_Fairy

poppysarah wrote: »

It's been your granddads home for all these years so leave well alone! If the family falls out and someone wants money back there'll be almighty rows. Especially if repairs need doing.

And if he needs care then he then has an asset to sell to pay towards that.

There has been no decisions made exactly regarding funding just suggestions of everyone putting in. There was no point decided what would be done money wise without firstly finding out if it was even possible and secondly the amount of money that would have to be raised.

The house isnt my Grandads so he wouldnt be able to sell it.

Giggles_Fairy

jockosjungle wrote: »

What will you do with the house when your grandad passes on?

If you are all chipping in, is there going to be some deal where you all get your money back if the whole family is paying?

It'll just be a house lying empty as you seem to want the house as a monument to your family rather than making any profit from a sale

R

The house would never lie empty. There is currently two of his children renting, and several grandchildren all of whom anyone would be happy for them to move in. Although saying my Grandad said he is aiming for 90 but Ive told him 100 is deifnately within his reach considering his current health (which is better than most 65 year olds!), so it may actually be great grandchildren moving in hahaha

We dont want to make a profit as I have already said. Its not about taking advantage of the council. Its about buying a house that two generations of the famiy have grown up in, added to the fact that it is a lovely house in a lovely area in excellent condition. We are a loving family whom have spent many wonderful times together if we wish to spend our money to purchase a house that has seen us all grow up and was the location of many of these memories that is our decision.

Giggles_Fairy

Thanks for everyone replies. I appreciate everyone has opinions on this, which I know whenyou post on a forum you are inevitably going to get shared with you. I was looking for the facts of the situation as to whether it was possible for the family to purchase the house on my Grandads behalf and what the discount would be so that the family can discuss it with the actual facts, which they havent had so far. So thank you so those that have shared the knowledge they have with me.

The general feeling seems to be that it is a bad idea, some of the points I can appreciate and these are things we know we would have to discuss in great detail before a decision was made. I do know that my Grandad is very happy where he is, its a lovely well kept house that has needed minimal repairs over the years he has occupied it, he knows all his neighbours all of whom are lovely, and he is close to all of the family. Although he is nearly 80 years old he definately isnt a typical 80 year old. Hes got all his marbles, drives, bowls 3 times a week, regularly perfects DIY or carjobs for all the family and has no mobility problems at all, most people think hes in his 60s! He said hes aiming for at least 90 but Ive told him I think that telegram from the Queen is definately achieveable! Whatever decision is made we would make sure my Grandad was happy with the decision and all eventualities were discussed (repairs, payouts, ownership etc etc).

Im going to go do a search for other similar threads now. Thank you for taking the time to read mine.

jockosjungle

So you'd be happy for your children to live in it, would the whole family be happy with that arrangement? If you are all going to be chipping in (sounds like a fair few of you will be doing so) sounds like in future years you could all struggle to agree

R