Right To Buy- Scotland - High Council Valuation

flip001

Hi All, I am a council tenant of some 6 -7 years, and have applied to buy my semi detached council house. However, the valuation and offer letter came back from the council and its higher than I anticipated, based on other sales, both private and RTB for identical houses in the same street.

I questioned it and the council double checked with the district valuer, but they have come back to me stating they (The DV) feel the valuation is correct and fair and there is no statute for appeal.

Surely this cant be right?

Any help would be much appreciated.

tomtontom

What can't be right? They have offered you the opportunity to buy the property at £x, if you don't feel the property is worth that price you are free to decline and look elsewhere/ remain a council tenant. That's how the housing market works, I'm not sure why you feel you should be treated differently to anybody else?

Pixie5740

How recent are the other sales for similar properties near yours?

flip001

Another sale has been completed in the last 6 months, for an identical house further down our street.

This one had a two car drive, garage, decking, patio, solar panels, premium bathroom and kitchen. It sold for about 5k LESS than mine has been valued, which has none of these features.

Pixie5740

If the offer is less than a month old and you haven't been able to negotiate a lower price then you can take your dispute to the Lands Tribunal.

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/finding_a_place_to_live/buying_a_home/right_to_buy/the_right_to_buy_process

leveller2911

flip001 wrote: »

Another sale has been completed in the last 6 months, for an identical house further down our street.

This one had a two car drive, garage, decking, patio, solar panels, premium bathroom and kitchen. It sold for about 5k LESS than mine has been valued, which has none of these features.

How do you know its a "premium kitchen and Bathroom"?.. What is "Premium" about them?.

Nobbie1967

flip001 wrote: »

Another sale has been completed in the last 6 months, for an identical house further down our street.

This one had a two car drive, garage, decking, patio, solar panels, premium bathroom and kitchen. It sold for about 5k LESS than mine has been valued, which has none of these features.

To be fair, with the exception of the garage, none of those would have much impact on the house value. Is the market rising fast in your area? What is the valuation? If it's a 50k semi in an old mining town, then it does seem wrong, but if it's a £400k semi in a London suburb then it's easy to see that 6 months would make a lot of difference.

baldelectrician

The council know you have until mid summer to buy the you lose the right to buy- they hold all the cards

Oswald_Funkletrumpet

I had the same issue and requested a visit from the district valuer who then sent me and the council a copy of his report.

I wouldn't take the council at their word and would request a copy of his report

theartfullodger

Is it still a fabulous deal compared to buying normal-market-price similar properties in the area?? Are you still getting a "great" bung from tax-payers??

Mollie90132

The Revised Right to Buy in Scotland means much less discount max of £15,000 discount if I remember correctly and OP wouldn't get as much as that as not been in house for the full qualifying period. So no 'Great Bung'.