How to recognize an ex council house?

Dunroamin

Brallaqueen wrote: »

Y'all live in nice areas if those council houses are anything to go by. certainly wouldn't be ashamed to live in any of them.

Around my way you get this

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36697028.html

this

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21830442.html?premiumA=true

or this

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37339691.html

Bloody hell - they're grim! (Grim but cheap.)

londonlydia

I think generally you have to know what is typical for the area you live in.
I always think that council properties in my area have different windows- often straight up against the roof....and often built from that brown brick, rectangular shaped frontage (quite wide), perhaps with some rendering on teh lower half, or a splash of pebble dash. But then they stick out from the sea of non-council 1930s Steven's houses with bay windows, tiling on the bay etc.

To be honest, a lot of people are afraid of council areas, but there's pros and cons to anywhere. Like others have said, you can get bad neighbours anywhere- and actually not having a sense of community is just as bad, which often comes in areas with all provate housing where people move more frequently as theyre trying to climb the property ladder. A lot of these properties are good houses!

I think the worst situation is actually where there are pockets of council and ex-council, as the two groups can end up resenting each other. It's much better when there's a better mix, so you dont get no-go zones etc

ruggedtoast

The main giveaway is signs in the street or thereabouts that say "No ball games".

bluedrop

ruggedtoast wrote: »

The main giveaway is signs in the street or thereabouts that say "No ball games".

Yes!! This was there! What does it mean ? Pls share ur thoughts...

Also, we had a second viewing of the property yesterday....while leaving, I noticed this sticker on the main door... It says
" all items in this property are security tagged - police"

Should this make me suspicious?

JodyBPM

bluedrop wrote: »

Thanks for the responses! I still see no fixed recognizable pattern

Anyway, do any of these look like ex council ?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33423925.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22361487.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32883136.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37527200.html

I think all but the last one (and I'm not 100% sure it isn't) are ex council properties.

The giveaway tends to be quite bland utilitarian looking houses in streets or estates of similar houses. They come in a whole lot of different styles though, so its impossible to give one example of what a typical council house looks like.

Also, almost all newbuild estates now have a large proportion of social housing.

Ex council do give value for money. I *might* consider an ex council in a road with a small run of council houses, but I wouldn't buy an ex council on a council estate and I wouldn't buy on a newbuild estate full stop tbh. To be honest, you need to know you area, know what the demographics are, and what the social problems are. In some areas council estates would be fine to live on mostly owner occupied with a few pensioners mixed in, in some they will be drug/crime ridden holes. Check out the local reputation of the areas/roads you are considering.

JodyBPM

chrissie57 wrote: »

This is ex-council where I come from.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29828845.html

I would say nice surroundings - but still recognizable

I would live here without any concerns. The fact that it was ex council wouldn't bother me at all:)

Mrs_Arcanum

This is one local to us. Built in the 50's with walls that make drills history.

pineapple

Hopefully we have said goodbye to the boring utilitarian estates of the past. There are some fine examples of new build. Personally if I was buying, I would be looking at the local crime stats and trying to get a feel for the place. There is many a 'private' crime ridden chavvy area I wouldn't want to live in.:eek:

BobQ

ruggedtoast wrote: »

The main giveaway is signs in the street or thereabouts that say "No ball games".

Funny they have a sign saying just that on the private housing estate I live in just to stop the little scallies who use the communal grassed areas from doing this. I assume these little urchins come another part of town.:D

Norma_Desmond

pimento wrote: »

The £400k house opposite me has an England flag hanging out of the front window and there isn't a council house for five miles in any direction.

Nouveau Riche then; even worse.