Living near Affordable Housing - Whats it really like?

MrParsons

What would you be wanting to see though? I have seen the house type and been in one that was built at another development. everything about the property I am happy with apart from tis affordable housing issue.

ILW

I would like to see what the neighbours are like. (or at least get an idea). Would never buy off plan for that reason.

Racml34

Can the developer not tell you which Housing Association the affordable rented properties are through? You could then ask them what type of tenure they would be looking to introduce there.

'Affordable' housing association schemes can mean many things. There is 'social affordable rent' which most people think of as council housing, there are 'affordable rent' and 'intermediate' rented tenancies for which applicants usually need to be working and pay a deposit etc but each HA has their own criteria for these. There is 'market rent' which are HA owned but rented via a letting agent usually and these are often used where they could not sell the properties. Then there is 'shared ownership or shared equity'

Having said that the majority of HA tenants are good tenants and behave responsibly. It is the minority that spoil it for others. And you can get awful neighbour wherever you live. I live in a private close and for a year had the most dreadful neighbours, rubbish all over the front garden, old abandoned cars etc and loud music and they ones their property.

phoebe1989seb

I don't have any experience of new estates, but have felt the impact that Housing Association residents can have on an area - from 1997 till 2007 we lived on the South Coast in a small road of around 20 large Victorian *villa* type houses. In the past some of these had been converted to flats - including our house, which prior to us buying it had been divided into four - some privately owned, some tenanted. The properties all had a minimum of five bedrooms and as a road it was quite sought-after, being a conservation area close to three independent schools and good shopping facilities. The houses regularly sold for £500k+*

*in fact our former home has recently sold again at around £700k, so IMHO this wasn't/isn't a *bad* area.

In approximately 1999 a vacant shop on the corner of our road was demolished and replaced by a small block comprising a few townhouses and some flats. These were owned by a Housing Association from a town some twenty miles away and whilst we ourselves didn't notice a huge increase in unsociable behaviour - although the properties themselves soon took on an air of neglect - we did find it an issue when we were selling in 2007.

We had accepted an offer from an elderly couple who were looking for a UK base having previously moved to Guernsey. They didn't know the area and after their offer had been accepted (£595k), they returned a couple of weeks later for a walk around to check out the local facilities. Apparently, some residents from the Housing Association sitting on a wall outside their home yelled a mouthful of abuse at them and the couple immediately went to the EA and withdrew their offer, saying the area was not what they'd expected. We were gutted as we had found a house to move to and had an offer accepted ourselves. It took us another two months to get another buyer

Racml34

Oops should have said the dreadful neighbours owned their property! Just getting to grips with my new iPad so apologies for dreadful grammar!

persa

We live near quite a lot of council housing and whilst I admit it's offputting to see men sitting outside swigging lager late at night (never any women, funnily enough), we've never actually had any problems. They've never shouted at us or done anything to intentionally intimidate us - they do their thing, we walk past and don't interact.

I think it's a bit like living next to a railway - never bothers you personally, but other people are bothered about other people being bothered, so the resale value can take a hit.

I don't think I'd buy here, but I'm happy to rent here.

Fishingtime

I have always believed ( rightly or wrongly ) that affordable housing is mean for nurse,fireman and people like that on a lowish wage. not people on the dole

MrParsons

I appreciate that you can get crappy neighbours with bought property but if its council tenants who don't care about their property then it could quickly turn into a chavtastic area. I think the consensus is that I should contact the housing association and see what their plans are?

charlieismydarling

I live in a council house. No one here drinks lager in their garden. I look after my house and put rubbish in the bin.

I can spell too. You can work and live in a council house.

The level of ignorance on here is astonishing.

MrParsons

No one is saying you can't. and good for you for being in that situation.

However its a perfectly honest question and your situation is not totally relevant. People who don't work, cause trouble and are louts have to live somewhere. I am trying to mitigate my risk of living near them and I have a right to do so.