Right to buy

dlk

My in laws have been in the same council property for 33 years and the option of right to buy has come up. They would consider it but are looking to downsize asap due to ill health and so inability to keep up with the upkeep of a 3 bed house and large garden.
They would like to move to a small one bedroom place without a garden (or small one) which may well be possible.

If they do this would they then lose the 33 years reduction they have built up and start again or would they still be able to buy at the reduction based on 33 years?

McKneff

As far as Im aware they still get the same discount. I believe it goes on the amount of time you have paid the rent, not neccessariy what you have paid the rent for.

Seems a shame that they cant manage the house and garden.

Could some family not commit to help them for a few years.

Children would inherit one day so it may be more worth their while.

newbutold

dlk wrote: »

My in laws have been in the same council property for 33 years and the option of right to buy has come up. They would consider it but are looking to downsize asap due to ill health and so inability to keep up with the upkeep of a 3 bed house and large garden.
They would like to move to a small one bedroom place without a garden (or small one) which may well be possible.

If they do this would they then lose the 33 years reduction they have built up and start again or would they still be able to buy at the reduction based on 33 years?

I believe it goes on the amount of time you have been a tenant of that council for as opposed to the time you have been in a particular property.

However if they suffer poor health is it really the right thing for them. At present if anything goes wrong with the property they just have to call and report the repair and it is sorted out for them. They don't have the hassle or expense of finding a tradesman.

Owning your own home isn't always what its cracked up to be. The only plus I can see in this situation is that they could possible make a substantial profit from the property.

McKneff

I agree wholeheartedly with newbutold, if they are suffering ill health would they would be better going into sheltered housing.

They would still have the security and you woud have the peace of mind that they were safe and looked after.

Perhaps they could enquire at the council.

dlk

Thanks for your replies and if it is based on length of time a tenant with the council that's what I was hoping.
I may have been a tad over the top expressing myself as 'ill health'. Mother in law has a artery problem which effects her leg and makes stairs difficult whilst Father in law is struggling with garden due to his back. Family can help with the garden but not with the stairs issue and she wouldnt want other people helping with the cleaning.
If they can transfer to a small bungalow that would be ideal and then if they do want to complete the right to buy I'm pleased they can still get the 33 years worth of discount.

newbutold

I would of though if they are looking to leave a family sized property for the likes of an old people's bungalow, the council would find them one fairly quickly given the shortage of family housing. If you can get round the cleaning/gardening problem and they want to stay in their current home it might be worth you looking into whether the council will install a stair lift.

With regards to the 33 year discount, discounts do not increase year on year like they used to, they are now capped. However after 33 years I would imagine they qualify for the biggest discount possible. More information about discount limits below;

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/HomeBuyingSchemes/DG_186973

dlk

Thanks for the link 'newbutold'. I thought it was 35% after 5 years then an extra 1% for every year. Whilst that is correct I didn't know about the regional limits. That link has pretty much answered my questions as with a £24k limit for Yorkshire they probably wouldn't be able to afford it anyway at there age and so unable to get a mortgage.

squinty

If they move to sheltered accommodation it is very likely that this would be excluded from the RTB

To be suitable for elderly a property must have been let to a person aged 60 or over, and have

• easy access, eg a lift if it’s not on the ground floor
• all rooms on one level
• no more than two bedrooms
• enough heating for at least a living room and one bedroom
• easy access to shops and public transport

Also - the govt have announced that the discount cap will increase, but I have not yet seen any detail on regional caps. See


http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/government-raises-right-to-buy-discounts/6520895.article


Why do they want to conder RTB anyway?

Running_Horse

They probably don't.

This board has a regular influx of people wanting to buy their old and sick relatives council homes, whether it is the right thing for them or not. People get fixated on the discount and profit, and forget security of tenure in old age.

Running_Horse

And yet they never post here themselves.

It's always a younger fitter relative, on their behalf.

dlk

Neither of them have ever even switched on a computer let alone post on an internet forum! I realise it may be alien to you to help someone by looking into things on their behalf but some people do have family and friends for whom they do favours.