Shared Ownership Housing Association Experiences in the South of England

KHud

Hello,

I wondered if anyone was able to talk about their experiences with Housing Associations in the South of England that operate the Shared Ownership schemes? My partner and I are hoping to move out of rented accommodation however I've recently become disabled and so our income's dropped significantly, so Shared Ownership is looking like the best option for us to get a foot onto the property ladder. We live in the South of England and have seen a number of properties with Thames Valley Housing Association (TVHA). However, from having a look online there are plenty of horror stories about huge increases in rent and service charges, and poor service. This is slightly off-putting! We've also seen some houses with South Oxfordshire Housing Association (SOHA), but I've come across nothing online about them in terms of reviews. I'm concerned that this isn't a good thing!

So, I wondered if anyone's bought under the Shared Ownership Scheme in the South East of England and could tell me a little about your experiences please?

Thank you very much.

Tygermoth

I am going through a shared ownership purchase at the moment. As I have an application in process I will not name them but they are of the same ilk as TVH

+ The housing Assoc staff a borderline rude and high handed as they have more applicants than stock.

+ They have stated that though I am buying a %50 share in the house I will never see it until the day I pick up the keys (!) they are too busy to arrange viewings and the builders will not deal direct. They have stated you can like it or lump it (this is also noted on their website that you will not get to view) They have also stated that the floor plans are approximate and will not give info about the layout/measurements – really !?!

+ Out of the available houses one will be allocated to you. You don’t get a choice.

+ They are really tardy to respond but when they call you or send an email they want an answer immediately with the implied threat that if you don’t respond quickly enough they will rescind any offer.

+ There is no posted timelines for anything – in our case they keep saying that we will be in by the end of January – they are totally adamant that they will not overshoot this & it has been reiterated in a number of communications – however we are at stage two only – still waiting for the housing need link to come through, be processed and formal offer to be made with plot details. So far it’s taken three weeks for each stage so to complete these two steps its likely six weeks…We can’t get a mortgage broker or make any arrangements until the formal offer and if they are looking to have everyone, there are eight in this allocation, in by Jan it’s cutting everything very fine!

+ They will not discuss your case at all. Where you are in the process, what’s outstanding. They tell you nothing if you chase them – you will be contacted, you don’t contact us. Its all one sided. They say jump, you politely and deferentially ask how high while doffing your cap and pulling on your forelock.

+ This is my second time of applying – the first time they allocated me a property that was reserved for a keyworker in error – I got through the whole process up to exchange before they realised the error and withdrew the offer – I complained as I had paid a number of fees searches and solicitors and nearly was made homeless as I had given notice on my rental - was told to do one.

So why, with all the above am I even considering using this (insert expletive) scheme – simply, I rent. it costs an eye watering fortune every month – knock on effect I can’t save – so I have to rent. Also as commuting distance to London even tiny flats are totally beyond my means to get a mortgage on.

Least if I have a Housing assoc, I won’t get evicted because the LL suddenly wants to move their mistress in or I have to wait months to get the guttering sorted or heating fixed (now I will just get them fixed because it’s my responsibility) or in one notable case the LL had sold the house but not told us as he needed the rent right up to exchange (many years ago but a total nightmare)

My personal favourite the LL letting himself in while I am not home and rifling through my underwear drawer and leaving passive aggressive notes about how I had my undies arranged. His jowl wobbled with sheer temper when advised he was not able to enter the house (it HIS house don't you know, HIS) without permission unless it was an emergency. So from them on all the passive aggressive notes had the words ‘entered as could hear running water’ – ‘emergency’ – followed by I see you haven’t done last night’s washing up. You left the curtains partially closed in your bedroom again (btw way I am immaculately clean tenant)

By putting up with the housing assoc poor customer service I will have a general security of tenure and privacy of my own home - as long as I pay my mortgage & rent. The housing assoc rent is index linked whereas a LL can raise his willy-nilly so even that is slightly more secure

I know it’s the worst parts of both renting and home ownership but it’s still better than just renting.

Anything is better than just renting.

Says a lot really… sigh.

KHud

Crikey sounds like you've had an awful time renting and with the Shared Ownership scheme! I keep hearing all these horror stories with Housing Associations; but like you renting is getting to be a less viable option, apart from the fact it's soul destroying spending so much money on poor quality accommodation and paying other people's mortgages!

I hope that the housing association pull their finger out and that you get into your new house soon.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

tiger_eyes

I bought a shared ownership flat in the South West of England and although I wouldn't describe the housing association as especially eager to help, the process wasn't quite as painful as for Tygermoth (ouch). Mine was a resale, so perhaps that makes a difference?

KHud

That's interesting to know, thank you. We've seen some resale houses on the scheme that looked interesting, so it's good to know that that's potentially less like pulling teeth.

Tygermoth

Resales are def more laid back.

They are less sought after (well in this area) so things are less frantic.

We got part way through a resale in the end the vendor changed her mind but things were much more friendly.

carefullycautious

Please read this informative piece about what can happen in a worst case scenario. Scroll down to read about the case


http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2013/sep/03/hidden-dangers-shared-ownership

kimbyanne

We purchased our S/O last year. The process was tough and stressful.

As others have said, the HA staff dealing with S\O are RUDE and SUPERIOR! The demand far outweighs the amount of properties for sale so the HA staff seem to think they can get away with talking to people like rubbish.

The first time we applied, we had to submit so much information about us, our jobs, income, family, if we had local connection, etc and pass checks that simply allowed us to bid on properties. The HA had held an open day a few months previously so we had seen the houses.

The first release was two houses, we bid on them, but so did 47 other families. We didn't even get shortlisted and the reasons I was given by a total cow at the HA was 1. We were bidding on a two bedroom house and we were just a couple, people with children got priority and 2. Despite the fact my fianc! works in the area and our families live here, we didn't live in the area and therefore people who already lived here got priority.

The second phase of houses got released, this time six houses. We bid and didn't hear anything. Then one day got a phone call to say one of the original houses we bid on was available as none of the shortlist could get a mortgage, and did we want it. Luckily, it was the exact plot we wanted.

As soon as we said we wanted it, the HA wanted everything done immediately. We had to pay a £500 non refundable deposit the same day.

The rest is a blur of paperwork. However we were offered the house in October and moved in end of November.

It was one of the most stressful periods of my life but I love my house and would do it all again.

We will own it all in the next couple of years, and without S/O, we would still be renting

leveller2911

Duplicate post..........

leveller2911

Tygermoth wrote: »

By putting up with the housing assoc poor customer service I will have a general security of tenure and privacy of my own home - as long as I pay my mortgage & rent. The housing assoc rent is index linked whereas a LL can raise his willy-nilly so even that is slightly more secure

I know it’s the worst parts of both renting and home ownership but it’s still better than just renting. Anything is better than just renting.

For you personally it sounds like the best of a bad lot but I would just add that going down the SO route has its problems so things such as if you wanted to extend/convert the attic etc you would also have to get the HA permission to carry out the work and thats not 100% guaranteed (although they do give conscent in most cases) and you will also have to pay for their building surveyor to oversee the work even though you would be paying the Local Authority Building control to oversee the work and make sure it complies with regulations. So in effect you will be paying twice for the same service.

With SO there can also be issues with selling the property with a limited appeal of only owning a percentage of a home whilst being liable for 100% of the maintenance costs.

Its also worth noting that Oxford University researched SO and found that only 5% or people staircased to owning 100% which is not a problem if people are happy with never owning 100% . IIRC It was down to affordability, people couldn't afford to staircase to 100% so it wasn't through choice.

Many people prefer renting because they don't have to stump up money for maintenance and some people do like to be able to move around with their work and not be chained to a mortgage.

selloptape

I had a negative experience with shared ownership.

- all sales literature and examples on website indicated that rent was linked to value of property. However each year the property value went down and rent went up so got stung both ways.

- they covered the shared ownership properties with the same buildings insurance as their social housing stock - this had a 2k excess, not good when I had a break in!

-although NHBC says you get snagging after two years they did snagging after one year only. I disputed - contacted builder and head of housing direct and was told that this was what had been negotiated with the Housing Association. Queried why the Housing Association had negotiated a snagging package that was less than you are legally entitled as per NHBC. Got fobbed off. No money to pursue via a solicitor.

- selling - all estate agents advised that shared ownership properties are a harder sell in my area, definitely was the case, took ages to sell and had lost a quarter of value.