Ex-council Houses

girl_withno_name

What do people imagine when they think 'ex-council house'?

This is the image I have in mind...
http://www.bmvbuzz.co.uk/Below-Market-Value-Properties/images/properties/images/14/50_14.JPG

But I'm starting to get the feeling that they take a different shape in other people's minds...

abankerbutnotafatcat

If we're talking in generalisations (because they can cover anything from workers cottages in rural locations to inner city high rises) my thoughts when I think ex-council are:
often good locations, better value than privately built, could be on estates so need to consider implications of that if they are, larger rooms than average privately built, often well built as weren't built for profit, some stigma but could be offset by the positive considerations.

To put that in context though, I'm in the London area where high house prices have made ex council properties that bit more attractive.

Angelicdevil

To me; they all look the same on the estates - you couldn't tell what's council owned and what's not, they tend to have much larger rooms than privately built abodes and they're cheaper.

girl_withno_name

The reason I ask is because in another thread, someone asked for opinions on the property below and one response was that it was ex-council... although the council houses in my home town look nothing like this!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-16199067.html

unsure

Some years ago we lived on a 1930's terraced street In North London. Half the three bedroom houses were council the other half were privately owned (including ours). You really couldn't tell the difference. However, at the top of the road there was a small run down estate of council flats which were a very different matter and definitely did carry a stigma.

So my answer is that like any other type of property "ex council" comes in different shapes, sizes and levels of desirability/undesirability depending on many different criteria (location, size, build quality, maintenance etc) I'd always take the individual proposition on its merits and judge from there.

babymoo

This is the ex council estate I grew up on. Beautiful little village, wonderful houses, wonderful neighbourhood. Not a great picture I admit but its the best I can find of it.

I think there can be misconceptions. I have driven through places that look like your idea of a ex council property and then I have seen places like this and where I live now and where I am trying to buy. All are ex council and lovely houses on lovely streets with really good neighbourhoods.

bekkki1

I live near that link on post 5, and they are typical for the area. Most council houses in Stoke look like that

spadoosh

girl_withno_name wrote: »

The reason I ask is because in another thread, someone asked for opinions on the property below and one response was that it was ex-council... although the council houses in my home town look nothing like this!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-16199067.html

My ex council house looks more or less exactly like that.

Supposed it depends when they were built, that style is 40's/50's. I'd guess the orginal link are older?!

Donb't they have million pound council houses in london?!?

Mrs_Arcanum

With an ex council house you will probably get a decent size garden & a solidly built house.

In our cul-de-sac there are 16 houses and 4 flats. Half the houses are owned - all 50's built Council properties.

Davesnave

girl_withno_name wrote: »

The reason I ask is because in another thread, someone asked for opinions on the property below and one response was that it was ex-council... although the council houses in my home town look nothing like this!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-16199067.html

That was me. I recognised the style.

I didn't say anything perjorative. Having been inside literally dozens of council & ex-council houses, I have no stereotypical image in my mind.

I live in an agriculturally-tied property. That covers a multitude of possiblities, but most people immediately think, "concrete panel Woolaway." :rotfl:

girl_withno_name

Davesnave wrote: »

That was me. I recognised the style.

I didn't say anything perjorative. Having been inside literally dozens of council & ex-council houses, I have no stereotypical image in my mind.

I live in an agriculturally-tied property. That covers a multitude of possiblities, but most people immediately think, "concrete panel Woolaway." :rotfl:

Definitely not saying that you said anything wrong!! Just made me think "I wonder how they knew, and hence what council houses look like elsewhere..."