Would you (or have you) buy an ex-council house?

HappyMJ

chelseablue wrote: »

Ex-council house (not viewed this one yet)
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51105262.html?premiumA=true


Private house (we have viewed this, needs too much work for us plus was near a noisy main road)
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50961604.html

You're not going to get too many landlords renting out a £400,000 property for the 3 bed LHA rate for that area of £961 per month. It's not affordable for the tenant. Your neighbours will mostly be privately owned or privately rented paying rent without the assistance of housing benefits.

Slinky

I would never have guessed that was ex-council from the pictures.

onlyroz

Like anywhere there are nice estates and not-so-nice estates. Go and take a look at some and see what you think.

Mossfarr

The ex council house is much nicer. It may be £20k more expensive but you would probably need to spend that much to bring the other other house up to the same standard.
My vote is for the ex council house!
mossfarr

[Deleted User]

You can also run the neighbourhood through this to check it out - https://www.police.uk/

DTDfanBoy

I realise it varies hugely around the UK but there are some lovely council houses around, I walk the dog past these on a daily basis, they've got a much better view than my own house and there's not much wrong with the neighbourhood either

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Southborough,+Tunbridge+Wells,+Kent+TN4+0TQ/@51.1656712,0.2397004,111m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47df458d89037a57:0x16276c31dbaee72

ognum

the key to the purchase of any property is location. If the location is good then buy it, if not then don't.

Gigervamp

The first one is much nicer than the second one. Also, looking at the street on streetview, it looks like a nice road to live on.

cyantist

But the first one is still only a 2bed/box room house. For 420k! The second while needing a lot of work is cheaper and has an extra bedroom.

I would only buy a council house if it was significantly cheaper than non-council alternatives and more often than not it isn't.

Mummyisbeauty

Both our houses have been ex council and never had an issue with the house. This one is better than the first but was more expensive and backs onto the park. (only bought becaause our first was knocked down by council and we were given a nice incentive by the council).
The neighbouring houses are mainly still council and the neighbours are lovely and never had any issues.