Right to buy - adapted property.

cymrubaby

Please could someone help me with something that is bothering me.

I live in an adapted home - it has a downstairs extension which was turned into a bedroom and bathroom, plus level and rear access for my son's wheelchair.

I've been under the assumption that I cannot purchase this home because of it's adaptations. However, I was just reading the Directgov website which was saying houses particularly suitable for the elderly are the ones that don't tend to be sold to tenants. It mentioned access, heating, location to shops and then I saw that it should have no more than two bedrooms. My home has four - it was originally three bedrooms and the extension made it a four. So, my house won't be deemed as 'particularly suitable' for the elderly. It is not rented to us on any other condition such as proximity to work etc.

Do you think I would be able to buy my home? I am starting the third year of my degree this year and when (if?) I get a job at the end I would like to be in a position to buy my home. I turned to the council because I couldn't afford to buy a big property to adapt and nor could I find an adapted house for rent. The homes in my area are very expensive and I would struggle to buy one of those.

Does anyone know whether I would be able to buy my adapted house simply because it doesn't fit the requirements for the elderly?

Thanks in advance.

theartfullodger

Most councils publish their right2buy guidelines - e.g. (yours will be different..)
http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/7364.aspx

so see what that says..

also good general guidance here..

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/finding_a_place_to_live/Buying_and_selling/right_to_buy

How long have you lived there?? Discounts have come down significantly, and in some areas (eg bits of Scotland) R2B has been suspended so check what the rules are in your area..

I can't see any obvious reason why your property should be excluded though.. but I'm no expert in R2B

Best of luck, hope you can work something out...

kingstreet

Phone the council and ask them. Otherwise, complete an RTB1 form and see what happens. The only problem with the latter is there's a 12 month deadline to complete the RTB when you've had the official offer and you may not be ready in time.

squinty

Check your tenancy agreeement, this may tell you if your property is excluded from the RTB.

Not sure what you read on the directgov site, but The directgov site

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/HomeBuyingSchemes/DG_187004

has a section on exclusions from the RTB which says

"A landlord can also turn down your application to buy your home if...... it offers sheltered housing for the elderly or for people with disabilities"

cymrubaby

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will definitely be ringing them up to ask about it. I'm not ready to buy yet and probably won't be for about three years or so. It'll be a more worthwhile investment than trying to buy somewhere else, especially as it is so suitable for my son whose disabilities are permanent. I just want the security of owning our own property so if something should happen to us our children will have something alongside their savings accounts. All I have to ensure now is that I get a teaching job at the end of my degree - but that's another post altogether!

Thanks again for the advice - it's much appreciated!

cymrubaby

squinty wrote: »

Check your tenancy agreeement, this may tell you if your property is excluded from the RTB.

Not sure what you read on the directgov site, but The directgov site

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/HomeBuyingSchemes/DG_187004

has a section on exclusions from the RTB which says

"A landlord can also turn down your application to buy your home if...... it offers sheltered housing for the elderly or for people with disabilities"

Just to mention that my house isn't sheltered housing and so cannot be counted for that reason. There are no wardens around here - it's just an adapted house.