Local occupancy restrictions on houses for sale

moneyistooshorttomention

Can someone list what the reasons might be for this being stated on property details?

I thought that only applied to ex-Council houses that had been sold under "right to buy" to a tenant?

When the houses concerned do not appear to be ex-Council houses - what other grounds are there for this restriction being stated? I've noticed that, of the houses I have seen this phrase written on, they don't necessarily seem to be cheaper than I would expect for the size/standard of house.

lincroft1710

1. Availability of "affordable" homes for local people.

2. Discourage property being purchased as "second homes".

antrobus

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Can someone list what the reasons might be for this being stated on property details?.

I thought that only applied to ex-Council houses that had been sold under "right to buy" to a tenant?

...

It's not only ex council houses.

Planning consent may have been granted on condition of a local occupancy restriction, or it might be some kind of affordable housing built by a HA.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

...When the houses concerned do not appear to be ex-Council houses - what other grounds are there for this restriction being stated? I've noticed that, of the houses I have seen this phrase written on, they don't necessarily seem to be cheaper than I would expect for the size/standard of house.

A lot depends on the exact nature of the restriction, But I understand that for ex-council houses for example, the nature of the restriction is often that you have to give local buyers first refusal, and wait four weeks before offering the property for sale to 'outsiders'. Obviously such a restriction will have no effect on the price.

It's also not unknown for such restrictions to simply be ignored by purchasers.:)

princeofpounds

It is occasionally another (stupid) condition of our planning system.

Davesnave

Local occupancy usually applies to agriculturally tied property.

The model condition currently in use is:

"The occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry, or a widow or widower of such a person, and to any resident dependants."

but there are many variants.

The term 'locality' isn't defined, so each local authority might have a somewhat different take on it.

Mistakes occur. With one property I know of, the typist left out the words "in agriculture or in forestry" (!)

With my property, the words "in the locality" are missing. No one knows if that was deliberate or accidental, but it will make the smallholding somewhat easier to sell.