Advice on buying council flat

Smodlet

BlackBird75 wrote: »

Exactly.
It's a ridiculous idea to normalise debt like this.
I don't think Smodlet is British anyway, so he/she probably doesn't have much experience of how councils operate.

I agree it is very unwise to normalise debt. You seem to imply that I did; I never suggested anything of the sort. This unfortunate phenomenon has come about well after I achieved adulthood so has never been "normal" to me. Rather, I was brought up to regard debt with horror and still do.

Not that it is any of your business but I am not only British but English. I have never been abroad in my life which may be one reason I can afford a very cheap, freehold house in a not very nice area. Oh, to inherit any house, let alone one worth a million quid.
Oh, yes, and I was a council tenant for well over a decade so do know whereof I speak, not that it's any of your business.

Maybe you should keep your assumptions to yourself until you have a clue what you are talking about.

G_M

If the occupants of the other flat are still council tenants, then the council will pay their half of the maintenance costs. You, as owner-occupiers, will pay for your half.


that is the home-ownership.


There are considerable advantages to being a tenant (no maintenance fees, boiler serviced for you, your hand held while you pee etc), especially council tenants (lower than market rent).


Home ownership does have advantages - but it is not all roses!

BlackBird75

Smodlet wrote: »

I agree it is very unwise to normalise debt. You seem to imply that I did; I never suggested anything of the sort. This unfortunate phenomenon has come about well after I achieved adulthood so has never been "normal" to me. Rather, I was brought up to regard debt with horror and still do.

Not that it is any of your business but I am not only British but English. I have never been abroad in my life which may be one reason I can afford a very cheap, freehold house in a not very nice area. Oh, to inherit any house, let alone one worth a million quid.
Oh, yes, and I was a council tenant for well over a decade so do know whereof I speak, not that it's any of your business.

Maybe you should keep your assumptions to yourself until you have a clue what you are talking about.

I don't know why you're getting so upset about it.

Your grammar led me to believe you were from the USA, which has a different type of housing stock (ie more wood, less stone, newer etc).

And you said "get a loan, like normal people".
As opposed to, asking the council if you can pay gradually.

Smodlet

BlackBird75 wrote: »

I don't know why you're getting so upset about it.

Your grammar led me to believe you were from the USA, which has a different type of housing stock (ie more wood, less stone, newer etc).

And you said "get a loan, like normal people".
As opposed to, asking the council if you can pay gradually.

I did not say that, 00ec25 did and I consider my English to be well above average. Try to get your facts straight; otherwise you make yourself look foolish.

Norman_Castle

I am struggling to understand how this all works; if we buy our flat and the neighbours already own theirs then what involvement do the council still have in repairs?

They're the freeholders so have control and the responsibility for maintaining the building. Talk to the council and your neighbor about buying the freehold. It will add value to the properties and may reduce your overall maintenance costs.
You may also have the right to manage if both properties agree to this. Again, talk to your neighbor and the council.

The projected £30,000 costs including the need for a new roof which is presumably a large proportion of these costs should have been taken into account for the valuation. The new roof if genuinely needed should add value to the property.


https://righttobuy.gov.uk/can-i-afford-it/buying-a-leasehold-property/

zak2012

annakins wrote: »

My partner and I have been a council tenant for quite a few years and were told we are eligible to buy our flat at a discounted cost. We have just received a valuation back and although the purchase price itself is fantastic with a big discount, there is a list planned maintenance works over the next 5 years.. This amounts to around £30,000 in total including the cost of a new roof! We would be liable for half of this as the property is a house converted into two flats. I am struggling to understand how this all works; if we buy our flat and the neighbours already own theirs then what involvement do the council still have in repairs? Also, how do they expect us to find £15,000 upfront to pay for repairs? I am hoping to get some advice from someone who has been in this situation before, we really do love the flat and would be able to get it at a fantastic price.

which part of england is that for £30 000 ? do you mind if i ask how many % discount they give u?whats ur flat full market value?

Smodlet

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

Says the person who felt the need to bring it up on two different threads. Maybe it's time to stop obsessing over Smodlet's grammar/origins, no?

Upset? Hardly. Mildly irritated? Getting there. Obsessing is right. Clearly, once BB75 gets an idea into his/her head, it is etched in stone and brooks no argument. Isn't it a little early for snow?

Thanks, Sunny.

PixelPound

So its a house, split into 2 flats, one is already private and the other council being considered to buy. The council will be freeholders, not the other flat as suggested, and if you buy then you will both be leaseholders to the council.

Councils have a duty to maintain their housing stock to a standard and produce plans accordingly. They have informed you of work they have already planned to carry out, so you need to consider this as part of your ongoing costs.The roof may well be perfectly fine and water tight and not need replacing, but the council will simply have it to be done before it starts deteriorating. You see plenty of Victorian terraced housing with original slate roof, still keeping the house dry 150 years after construction.

How well do you know your neighbour, its just you could mention you are thinking of buying and would they be interested in a joint purchase of the freehold. No need for the £30K repair bill - as joint holder you could get a surveyor in and check.

hazyjo

Be careful, everyone I've known or read about in this boat has always had a bigger bill than expected. Substantially bigger! Not just a couple of hundred quid. More like 25%+. There always seems to be extra charges, or huge delays in getting the works started which seems to result in higher price tags.

I would def wait until a later date after the works have been completed if poss. Although, as pointed out, home ownership ain't cheap!

gettingtheresometime

BlackBird75 wrote: »

I think it's not too bad in smaller blocks.
But the really large blocks of flats can be a minefield for flat leaseholders...

Yes standby for the middle class hypocrites who criticise tenants buying their council homes, yet feel entitled to inherit a million pound detached house they did nothing to earn...

If the cap fits....

Well I've never thought of my self as middle class & I'm never going to inherit a million pound house so I feel that I can quite easily say that the housing crisis won't be solved just by building more homes, whether that be private, affordable or social until the whole picture is looked at.