Would you buy on a council estate?

sarahevie

We very nearly bought an ex council house (summer 2007 peak of the market) and I am soooo glad we didn't.

The house was larger than the one we ended up with, bigger garden etc - 80% of the houses on that estate are privately owned (although many to landlords housing DSS). We got stats on this from the council (number privately owned on the estate)


The biggest problem though, whereas the houses on our street largely 3 bed terraces and semis (1920s) have sold for similar prices to what we paid. On the ex council estate properties are going for up to £40,000 less.

The house we nearly bought sold in summer 2007 for £135,000 - that same house has recently sold for £95,000. Our next door neighbour moved in three months before we did (May 2007) paying £155,000 - they have just sold their house (done no work on it but it is fairly modern anyway) for £175,000.

In our area the ex LA properties seem to have been hit hardest by the property down turn

milliebear00001

sarahevie wrote: »

We very nearly bought an ex council house (summer 2007 peak of the market) and I am soooo glad we didn't.

The house was larger than the one we ended up with, bigger garden etc - 80% of the houses on that estate are privately owned (although many to landlords housing DSS). We got stats on this from the council (number privately owned on the estate)


The biggest problem though, whereas the houses on our street largely 3 bed terraces and semis (1920s) have sold for similar prices to what we paid. On the ex council estate properties are going for up to £40,000 less.

The house we nearly bought sold in summer 2007 for £135,000 - that same house has recently sold for £95,000. Our next door neighbour moved in three months before we did (May 2007) paying £155,000 - they have just sold their house (done no work on it but it is fairly modern anyway) for £175,000.

In our area the ex LA properties seem to have been hit hardest by the property down turn

Thanks - that's a very valid point. I am obviously aware that an LA house is going to bring less of a premium than a private house BUT, in my town, three bed semis with a decent garden are really at a premium (lots of massive detached and small terraces).

Similarly, the house at the back of the one we are looking to buy, sold for £150,000 in 2007 (peak). It won't be worth that now.

We are clearly paying less because it's LA, and we're in a property slump. It's a good time to buy in a slump, rather than a peak! Hopefully, in 4-5 years, we'll have gained value rather than negative equity! No way of knowing this though. Private houses in my town that sold in 2007 are not selling for equivalent amounts today.

jw2003

We bought an ex-LA house last year. It's a good solid well built home and is a great size. We're putting it on the market shortly but it has nothing to do with the area, more to do with the part of England the area is in There is a ceiling with LA housing so I'm hoping we appeal to ftb's

theartfullodger

I've bought 4, no regrets about any: I think they are often better built than many spec. built estates..

Prejudiced people may look down their noses at council estates... let them.... Some people think they are better than others... often they ain't...

Cheers!

Lodger

skintchick

milliebear00001 wrote: »

That doesn't sound dissimilar to mine actually, although mine is more like four or five streets and one of them is quite long! Are they 'obviously' LA? Mine is 1950s and so a bit more attractive than the later council-built stuff.

Yes they're obvious but not so much because of architecture, more the general slightly run down feeling of the whole street! Compared to the surrounding streets, I mean, where all is very posh and immaculate. But the people next door to us on one side are not ex-LA. They are 1930 so reasonably attractive although could be nicer I guess.

roy_harper

[QUOTE
Is there anywhere I can look at reported crime/anti-social behaviour by postcode? All I've found is levels for the whole town.[/QUOTE]

Try wwwupmystreet.co.uk and select the 'crime' section.

But it's not terribly accurate. eg. our town says it has had one murder, but it's the quietest, loveliest place day-to-day. Why not pop into the police station, as they will have a more realistic input.

CloudCuckooLand

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Is there anywhere I can look at reported crime/anti-social behaviour by postcode? All I've found is levels for the whole town.

Have you tried http://maps.police.uk/

milliebear00001

CloudCuckooLand wrote: »

Have you tried http://maps.police.uk/

Thanks but that site, and the Upmystreet one only break down into figures for the whole town, rather than by postcode.

theartfullodger

Why not pop into the police station, as they will have a more realistic input.

Always go Saturday nite about 11:30 .. very illuminating...
.
Also, go visit where you plan to live Friday/Saturday evening...

Cheers!

Lodger

CloudCuckooLand

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Thanks but that site, and the Upmystreet one only break down into figures for the whole town, rather than by postcode.

Have you zoomed in enough? You should get parish/ward level, not just town.

Not sure you will get meaningful stats at postcode level, too small a sample.