OK-I'm never going to be able to buy a house. Other options?

lessonlearned

paulineb wrote: »

Im in a council flat and I have security of tenure. It may be slightly different for people who have moved in more recently, but I have an assured tenancy. I would also qualify for a 70 per cent discount if I wanted to buy, but Ive been here almost 20 years and I have the maximum discount.

My mum bought her council house when she was 46. She also got the maximum discount, paid about 17 000 for it, shes in a terraced house and its worth about 90 000 now.

Yes a council property will give you an assured tenancy but - and I know this is very unfair - a single male is likely to be very low on the housing list.

Comstock

lessonlearned wrote: »

Edited to say I just realised you said you are in the Derbyshire/Burton area. I am in Derbyshire. You can definitely get a small terraced house from about £60K to £70K - a one bed flat from around £30 to £35K. OK they might need a little work but perfectly doable.

Hi Lessonlearned. I agree on the terraced house at 70k, maybe even 60, but I've yet to see a flat anywhere near 30k!

Derbyshire is a big area, of course, prices might be cheaper in places like Chesterfield and Dronfield?

Yes a council property will give you an assured tenancy but - and I know this is very unfair - a single male is likely to be very low on the housing list.

Personally I've got no problem with housing those in most need first. I can accept I'm not going to get a council flat. Like I say, that's not really what I'm asking.

Really I'm after knowing about any 'fourth options' besides social housing, buying and short term private renting, that I can then go away and investigate myself.

LuSiVe

There's not much cheap in Dronfield!

I'm buying in Chesterfield, and I would think £70k would be doable there, although not perhaps in a particularly desirable area. In fact I can see some on Derby road at £50k although they ... erm ... need work ...

lessonlearned

Sorry cannot do links - bit of a technophobe.:o

Derby Central - Currently one in Compton Street. Reasonable up and coming area £35K, needs work been on the market a while. You might get a couple of grand knocked off. New kitchen and bathroom required in the long term, but you could get away with a damn good clean and a lick of paint for now. I've not viewed it in the flesh but it looks like there is some damp in the bathroom - it might just be something simple like condensation or a leaky bathseal.

Kedleston Street area is more upmarket, currently a number of 1 bed flats starting at £40K to £45K.

I'm not as familiar with Burton but I think in general Burton is cheaper than Derby.

North Derby - Heanor/Ripley/Ilkeston - terraced houses can start as low as £50K.
South Derby/Leics borders - Swadlincote and Ashby are good places to try.

4th options ???

House boat on the Trent or the Derwent or one of the canals or marinas. Loads of them around now. Some fantastic locations.

I have friends who bought an old barge and did it up, originally it was for holidays but they have now retired there. It is lovely They have a woodburner, all mod cons and it is very cosy. They moore it in Stenson marina.

Park Home. Some of these are really lovely and again some great locations. . A "pre-loved" park home can be picked up very cheaply.

Comstock

I'm not keen on the idea of a house boat, but I might consider a park home. That is worth looking into, thanks.

You'd think there would be a niche in the market for long term lettings, where the tenant gets some sort of security of tenure, and freedom to redecorate/make minor alterations but has to pay a market rent.

Somewhere in between social housing (which I accept I'm not going to get) and fully commercial letting (where the LL can give 2 months notice at any time, and you can't so much as move a nail or screw without written permission!)

olly300

paulineb wrote: »

Its all very well saying emigrate, but a lot of countries wont let people in unless they have a job and savings

I have friends who are now in Australia and they had to have a job and £30000 in the bank before they were accepted.

In the EU if you have the right experience and/or educational qualifications you don't need this.

You can also get a job in quite a few countries while being in the UK and only speaking English.

carefullycautious

Don't dismiss social housing you may be low priority for LA properties but Housing Associations can help also.

You need to sign on to home choice in your local area and keep bidding. The more you bid the better the chance of getting somewhere. Your name will keep flagging up and at some point you will be offered somewhere.

There are weeks where there may only be a couple of people bidding for a property and you may be the one who gets it.

How desperate are you at present are you having to share etc?

Comstock

lessonlearned wrote: »

Yes a council property will give you an assured tenancy but - and I know this is very unfair - a single male is likely to be very low on the housing list.

carefullycautious wrote: »

How desperate are you at present are you having to share etc?

Yes I am sharing. Since the house share is tolerable (nice landlord and housemates) I've decided to take my time and consider my options, so from that point of view I'm not 'desparate' as such. I'd ideally like my next move to be a long term one.

itch_for_a_glitch

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35381510.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Fmap.html%2Fsvr%2F1710%3Bjsessionid%3D85F9419D875B7DDD321F54CE423AC7CC%3FlocationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E94028%26sortType%3D1%26maxPrice%3D175000%26minBedrooms%3D2%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26radius%3D1.0%26propFeature%3DParking%23_includeSSTC%3Don%26auction%3Dfalse%26lastPersistLocId%3DREGION%255E94028%26locationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E256%26maxPrice%3D60000%26minBedrooms%3D2%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26previousSearchLocation%3DBurton-Upon-Trent%26propFeature%3DParking%26radius%3D1.0%26searchLocation%3DBurton-Upon-Trent%26searchType%3DSALE%26sortType%3D1%26topMatchPersistRegIds%3D256%26useLocationIdentifier%3Dfalse%26box%3D-1.76190%2C-1.53187%2C52.76250%2C52.85382%26popupPropertyId%3D35381510%26mapType%3DMap&fromMap=true

Depends where you work really, the one above is handy for churches and Mosques

carefullycautious

you have nothing to loose in joining your local home choice letting through your Local authority. You can look online to see past lettings and how many people have bid which will give you some indication of what you are up against.

House boats are money pits

mobile residential parks are also expensive and you really do need to read up on the pros and cons. I dread to think how much they cost to heat during winter months.

what about becoming a house sitter.