Would you buy on a council estate?

JonnyBravo

garbaldisham wrote: »

Best advice is still to take a walk or drive around the area at different times of the day or night, perhaps talk to some of the local shop-keepers, etc.

It's all very well for some to say "Lots of kids hanging around on the corner, they're no bother", but if your house is the one on the corner, and said kids are 17 year olds sat on your front wall, flinging chip papers, empties and fag-ends into your garden, and using your gates as a football goal it'll soon wear a bit thin (I've been there.) We lasted four years before moving, everso slightly beyond our reach at the time, but the quieter life makes it all worth it.

I don't want to tar all estates, or even all streets or houses within an estate with the same brush - my mate lived literally 200 yards round the corner and has never had any trouble - but do your homework.

Spot on.

My initial reaction was "no" but I've been on streetview and had a look. It looks decent enough. I'd ask if theres ever kids hanging round in the grounds of "Whitfield House" or anything like that seeing as you border it.

skipinderjit

I dont know your personal circumstances but you are buying family accommodation. Your house, if you have children, is not your biggest life investment. Checkout the neighbours gardens. If they look like something out of US Deep South then avoid. What type, if any do your neighbours have for dogs. Are their many tatoos, loud music blaring in the street during the 'working' weekday,lots of 5 minute visitors to certain addresses. Is it close to an off licence/corner shop and who hangs out there of an evening. Check out the neighbourhood in all weathers...summers evenings. If you have elderly neighbours who'll move in when they 'move on'.
I certainly would not rule out buying ex social housing property but there is a lot to think of. Who's to say that you wont end up with neighbours from hell in private rented property which are often rented out to the social sector. I've lived in 3 council properties and have been lucky with good neighbours. Living in a family accommodation environment is a complete kettle of fish to living in, as I did, 1 bed flats. Be careful and try and think to think things through and dont rush. Good luck

karaP

My partner and I are in the same situation. We are first time buyers with up to £110,000 to spend however houses in private estaes start around £105,000 so we are primarily looking at ex-LA. We both grew up in areas classed as a bit rubbish but as has been mentioned it comes down to the nieghbours you live beside. We were lucky and had great neighbours however my parterns parents have just told us that after 25 years in their house, next door has been bought and rented out to a terrible family. Bare in mind this could happen anywhere however it is more likely in an ex-LA estate.

We are going to chat to the neighbours and drive around at different times. We are also fortunate to have a friend that lives in the street that is going to go through everything.

Try and speak to the neighbours and see if you can get a good feel of the place. I hope all goes well for you!

poorlittlefish

Lance wrote: »

Walls in exes council house very thin and could hear every sound next door.

I can't speak for all ex-Council houses, but I bought one and the reputation they've always had in my area is that they are solidly built and have far less problem with noise coming through walls.

I've had friends and colleagues complaining that they can hear their neighbours talking, sneezing and going to the toilet through the walls of their non-Council houses, whereas I've never had that issue.

So many properties on Council estates are privately-owned these days, thanks to the Right to Buy scheme. Just because a house isn't occupied by a Council tenant, it doesn't mean the people living there are necessarily any better. In the past we've had three lots of nightmare people buying the house next door, whereas the Council tenants over the years in the next house on have never been a problem.

sugarwalsh

I bought one - 12 years ago and didn't regret it for a second. The estate we bought on had a 'reputation' and still does, at the lower end. However, we bought at the higher end, where lots of people had bought their houses and it was bliss. The rooms were much larger than any other we could afford, the garden was enormous, there was loads of space around, lots of green areas and parking, the list goes on. It was built in the 1950's, when people valued quality of life and realised it was directly affected by their home life.
We only moved as it wasn't financially viable for us to extend. Our friends purchased it and love it now.
Ex L-A or not, all the same rules apply - if the house was affordable but not ex la would you still buy it? If yes, then go for it.

Megan
Px - my Mum screwed her nose up at us buying ex la as she had 'Never lived in a council house'. She got over that when she saw what we got for our money in comparison to unaffordable newer builds.

Ooops - just seen original post was put on AGES ago!

vintagebrighton

I live in a council flat............ when I say that it brings up all sorts of scummy images for people BUT these council places were built by the council in Edwardian times, one of the very first purpose built council homes in the city. Half the road is houses, half flats that look like houses - and now it's probably at least half privately owned. I smile to myself that people can be so judgemental.......... (but of course we all have different experiences it's just that private doesn't always mean better and council/HA doesn't always mean scummy)

donkey1969

Have just bought an ex LA house on a lovely estate, approx 65% owner occupied, fab value for money, got the 4 bed / large garden I need and the mortgage I'm paying is half that I was paying in rent to live in a so called 4 bed exec home on a wimpey estate where we had the neighbours from hell on one side privately renting, old cars/ mattresses/furniture in the front garden for months along with 4 huge dogs who were kept outside 24 / 7 in the rear garden, they barked constantly prob through boredom.

SusieWoozy_2

I deal with anti social behaviour for a housing association and I can honestly say I only deal with about 2% of our residents in the area that I cover. Some of the estates I'd have no issues with, some I would.

Bear in mind that generally speaking it's easier to resolve neighbour nuisance with the help of the LA than it is to deal with an owner or a private tenant. They have to follow legislation to resolve ASB and tenancy issues and have tools and powers avaliable to them to do so.

Its becoming more common place now no matter where you buy for communities to be mixed. I'm buying on a new development which has to have a % of LA properties on it. I've done my checks, gone round at different times of day/ day of the week etc and all looks fine, but I will sleep well knowing that if I do get any issues the housing association has a legal obligation to sort out their residents!

You get just as many idiots in private properties these days so I wouldn't worry xx

gld73

vintagebrighton wrote: »

I live in a council flat............ when I say that it brings up all sorts of scummy images for people BUT these council places were built by the council in Edwardian times, one of the very first purpose built council homes in the city. Half the road is houses, half flats that look like houses - and now it's probably at least half privately owned. I smile to myself that people can be so judgemental.......... (but of course we all have different experiences it's just that private doesn't always mean better and council/HA doesn't always mean scummy)

In Swindon, some of the council houses are on estates which are sometimes considered pretty rough .... on the other hand, some of the council houses are the old railway workers houses, which are lovely. Grade II listed I should imagine, and in a great location, short walk to the railway station and the town centre. Would I live on one of the estates? No, probably not. Would I live in the railway cottages? In a heartbeat!!

The_Palmist

why not check car insurance in this post code and compare if it goes up or down ?