Discount for buying Council House

smwearne

I am going to apply to buy my council house, as I have lived in it for 3 years but in 1995 I was a council tenant and I bought that council house as I had lived in it for 10 years. However, after 18 months my husband and I split up and we had to sell the house and pay back most of the discount.

Does anyone know if the 10 years that I was a tenant between 1985 and 1995 would be added towards the 3 years tenancy that I have now - giving me 13 years discount?

pinkshoes

I'm pretty sure you can't!

Any because you paid back "most" the discount before, I think the discount you didn't have to pay back will be deducted from the discount you receive this time.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

smwearne wrote: »

I am going to apply to buy my council house, as I have lived in it for 3 years but in 1995 I was a council tenant and I bought that council house as I had lived in it for 10 years. However, after 18 months my husband and I split up and we had to sell the house and pay back most of the discount.

Does anyone know if the 10 years that I was a tenant between 1985 and 1995 would be added towards the 3 years tenancy that I have now - giving me 13 years discount?

How many council houses would you like to take out of circulation?

smwearne

That's not fair, circumstances beyond my control...I'm just trying to rebuild my life...

[Deleted User]

It is a fair comment. Rebuild your life.. buy another house.., just not social housing much needed by other people who are trying to rebuild their life.

If you can afford to buy another council house, I'd say your life is rebuilt?

With reference to your question.., surely the best people to ask is your local council?

-taff

No, it won't.

smwearne

No my life isn't rebuilt - far from it - but I am trying my best, as a single hardworking person. I can't afford to buy a house on the open market so this is my only option.

Mojisola

smwearne wrote: »

No my life isn't rebuilt - far from it - but I am trying my best, as a single hardworking person. I can't afford to buy a house on the open market so this is my only option.

Continuing to rent the council house is another option.

smwearne

Yes of course I know that and I agree that will be what I will continue to do if I can't afford a mortgage

DiamondLil

You really ought to be asking the council; however, I'd be pretty surprised if they considered a tenancy which ended 21 years ago to count towards any discount.....

Sambella

smwearne wrote: »

Yes of course I know that and I agree that will be what I will continue to do if I can't afford a mortgage

If you Iive in a council house you DO have the right to buy it regardless of the moral dilemma.

I would say that as you repaid some discount you may be able to reclaim some of the past tenancy but not all of it , it depends on what percentage you got and what percentage you paid back.

As per the rules you can claim for any previous tenancy but the fact you have bought before complicates it. Each council probably has their own policy regarding this. It is possible you may not be able to reclaim it or that you cannot claim the full length of the prior tenancy.