HELP!! Social Housing V's Buying a property.Which is more beneficial???

DD1981_2

Helpppp!!

I currently live in a one bedroom council owned flat(which i was on the list for for 7 years). The flat is not big enough for my Boyfriend to move in comfortably.

We have a sizable amount saved which could be used a deposit for a house.

I have been asking for different peoples views on which way would be best for me to go. I can see benefits to staying where i am and to buying our own property together.

I would really like to buy a 3 bed property with my BF, but at the same time will lose all the benefits of living in social housing. To get the same from the council i will have to have a child first and live in my small flat togther until we are moved (not in any way ideal). After a potentially uncomfortable year or so would be given a house, and then all repairs etc would be covered. If we buy our own house and start a family the way we would chose, we will be left with Bills Bills Bills!!

I can see the benefits for both, but would really appriciate other peoples views.

Thank You.:mad:

sirmosh

Personally I would do all I could to stand on my own to feet. As long as I can afford to eat and live then I will always do everything I can to own my own property and stay off of benefits.

If you're going to be so short on money that you can barely afford to live then you probably can't buy a property as you won't meet the affordability criteria set by lenders.

If you can afford to move out of social housing you should, there are plenty of people who really do need it and have no alternative, any one holding onto a property that they could be giving up for someone else should give it up in my eyes if they are in a position to do so.

Madjock

You would not be given a 3 bed council house. The baby would not count as a person till it was a year old, and it's most likely you would have a wait of perhaps another year before you would be housed in a 2 bed property.

It's possible you would be offered a property assessed at an affordable rent, so it wouldn't necessarily be that cheap to rent (Google affordable rent for more info). You may wait years for a new kitchen or bathroom, and if you have more children, they can share a bedroom till around the age of 10, and older than that if they are the same sex of course.

Food for thought.

DD1981_2

Thank you very much for your comments.

I would like to add that myself and my partner work full time and are not on any benefits.

I joined the list when I was 18 and after 7 years of waiting for offered a one bedroom flat.

I think i am a little sore after a friend has been given a brand new 4 bedroom house recently from our local council.

I really do want to buy my own house. Theres just no incentive in this day and age.

realitybites

With the 44% discount plus 2% off for every year you are a flat tenant gives you 54% off. Might be viable.

DD1981_2

Exactly! one of my many predicaments!

BitterAndTwisted

Social housing was never intended to be supplied to people who could afford to buy their own property. Do the decent and adult thing and buy somewhere either with or without your boyfriend and free up your property to someone who really needs it as you obviously don't.

Look into what all the disadvantages are in owning a property jointly with someone you are not married to. Statistically, you are likely to be splitting up and needing to sell within the next five years or less.

BitterAndTwisted

realitybites wrote: »

With the 44% discount plus 2% off for every year you have been a tenant could give you 54% off. Might be viable.

1) There's a maximum discount-cap now.

2) Service charges

3) If the property isn't big enough to house two people comfortably as a rental it's hardly going to be big enough when it's owned! Plus, in order to retain the maximum discount given the OP will have to reside in the property for five years before selling. That could be a really, really long five years in a tiny property. Possibly longer than the relationship could last.

DD1981_2

Thank you very much for your comment.

When i moved in to this property i had no savings, i recently lost a family member and now have some savings. I am just as entitled to the property as anyone else. I moved in 3 years ago with out "cheating" any system and was offered the property fairly.

If you are suggesting i may split with my partner then i perhaps should stay where i am, as i would not be able to afford a property by myself.

sariebeth

I think you know the answer to this - if you can afford it then rent/buy your own place and leave social housing to those who are genuinely in need. Yes you will have bills to pay, but so do the rest of us, it's a fact of life I'm afraid

anselld

DD1981 wrote: »

Thank you very much for your comments.

I would like to add that myself and my partner work full time and are not on any benefits.

.

As you said in your first post, social housing IS a benefit.
Buy if you can afford it.