We found the house we r buying is ex-council just a week before exchange. What to do?

csgohan4

Ask Maggie Thatcher, it's like why benefits are not that, benefits. They should be vouchers to be used for essentials like books, food, clothing e.t.c.

dirty_magic

LittleMax wrote: »

I think the OP would have worked out if they were in one of these areas. They talk about it being an up and coming area.

Come on let us know where it is and those of us familiar with the area will be able to comment without making much of Brum sound like a no go area!

I don't think the OP has bought in one of these areas and I actually said I don't think they have anything to worry about. I was just referring to the part where he said there were some blocks of flats a few streets away really because I can understand his concerns about crime.

I didn't just look at one block, I looked at a few that I know of for comparison. Not all of them were in central Birmingham but obviously the crime is higher there because it always is in city centres. I didn't look at Northfield actually, I don't know it very well.

cavework

csgohan4 wrote: »

Ask Maggie Thatcher, it's like why benefits are not that, benefits. They should be vouchers to be used for essentials like books, food, clothing e.t.c.

When Maggie brought in the right to buy many council houses were old and in dire straights.. they needed huge costly repairs..
I think her idea was to offload them as fast as possible and build new homes.. unfortunately the new homes being built from the proceeds did not match the amount of housing stock that was sold

looknohands

Not all people buy or aim to buy council houses to sell on for profit.

My Dad who now owns a council house which my grandad had bought about 20 years ago, he'd lived there since the estate was built in 1957 and lived in the house until he died.

My mother lives on the same estate and has for 30 years and has spent a lot of money decorating it, fitting a kitchen, landscaping the garden etc despite not owning the property she has no doubt added and maintained a considerable value to the property.

I think she would like to buy it and I'm sure she would get a significant discount as she's been there so long but can't technically afford it as she's a foster carer and gets zero income (as it's all tax relief I believe).

Would be nice for her to live there when she retires, though I know these homes are for people in need and not necessarily a retirement home I do think right to buy gives a nice option for someone who has been in the community so long to live out their retirement there.

Voyager2002

cavework wrote: »

When Maggie brought in the right to buy many council houses were old and in dire straights.. they needed huge costly repairs..
I think her idea was to offload them as fast as possible and build new homes.. unfortunately the new homes being built from the proceeds did not match the amount of housing stock that was sold

No. Councils were told that they were not allowed to use the proceeds to build or buy new housing. In effect the income from house sales make it possible to reduce taxes by more than was affordable, since the money from house sales was put towards the gap between income from taxation and the cost of providing public services.

TBeckett100

I came from a village and whilst in a private area, all the village issues stemmed from the council estate. Kids were bored and hollered and it was horrendous. Personally, I'd put them all on the Isle of Wight and stop the ferry service back to the mainland.

In the previous house all village burglaries stemmed from the council row

In the previous ex council flat all the smoking pot, anti social, chavvy car noises and hookigans stemmed from the social renters.

Personally I would drive by on a weekend night late and sit there, and repeat until you either decide it's ok or not. Check out any parish council minutes for the area, that's a great source to see what negative topics are being discussed

TBeckett100

If it's up and coming, it is usually code for a dump

ToriP

I'd also think twice if you're surrounded by council houses/tenants

GoldenShadow

Near me, ex council don't sell cheaper than houses which were never council. Houses built since 2000 sell for more, but I believe that to be because people still think they feel 'new'.

Unless an ex council house is some kind of pre fab/abnormal construction, still in a very heavily council owned area etc, I don't really understand why the price would be different.

Re paying loads when someone got a discount. I can see why it would bother some, but mine has had three owners including the first one who bought it. The last owner paid 145K and we have paid 210K. That makes me feel queasy enough, how high (and therefore knowing how low) property prices can go over just a decade.

Gosh this is making me worry about our purchase :rotfl:

SkyeKnight

cattermole wrote: »

I think you have absolutely no grounds to re-negotiate the house price because you didn't research or realize before it was an ex-council house.

If I was the seller I'd be furious at such a request tbh. They seem to have already been quite accommodating in dropping the price slightly over a few things that needed doing.

And I'd be furious at the seller for not informing me it was an ex-council house. I wouldn't buy an ex-council house and loads of other people wouldn't either so it does seriously effect the price.