Non-standard construction

Cakeguts

Smodlet wrote: »

What difference does that make, Cakeguts? You seem to me to have such antipathy for council houses, I sometimes think it might cloud your judgement. Would we could all afford to disdain them so; my mother did. When life happened and she was reduced to living in a council flat, she allowed it to affect her unnecessarily; she should have been incredibly grateful to be so housed.

Living in council properties (yep, plural) allowed OH and I to save the deposit required to buy our first home. I will always be grateful to that LA, for all their shortcomings.

Nothing really to do with the council house for being a council house and everything to do with the NSC because the council on building it was building it to rent to someone and it was never expected that it would ever be sold but owned by the council for ever as a rental so they could use non standard construction that would never be suitable for a mortgage. It is since Right to Buy that these problems have started. In reality you are not going to get a mortgage on a house like this because the banks won't view it as a reasonable risk.



I expect that in an ideal world the council should buy it back.

LMCLMC

Cakeguts wrote: »

In reality you are not going to get a mortgage on a house like this because the banks won't view it as a reasonable risk.

Very general statement and incorrect. There are lenders who specialise in this and our broker has already found one and with very reasonable rates, should we wish to go ahead.

Smodlet

A local EA told me the NSC properties in this area are mortgageable because there are so many of them. I think it really does depend on locale, lender and luck. I'd still avoid them but understand not everyone has that luxury either.

ETA: Cross-posted with LMCLMC; not ganging up on you, Cakeguts.

Rosieandjim

There are a lot in this area that always sell well. There are 2 at the moment one is under offer (has had refurb) and another just round the corner that's exterior is the same as when built.


Cannot believe everyone is cash buyer who has purchased them.


https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80241743.html

LMCLMC

That is very nice - ours is all brick so you would't know

LMCLMC

so we have put in a lower offer on the original house and see if they accept that. if not, we will pull out, and we have another viewing of a different one tomorrow as a backup

Rosieandjim

If you look on streetview you will see that the LA have put a shell on the outside of many of them. After this was done many tenants purchased them, and they sell very quickly. You can also see the ones that are as they were originally.


Do you know what type yours are?

LMCLMC

all we know is pre-fabricated reinforced concrete. don't fully understand it all to be honest

Smodlet

Reinforced does not sound good. It is the metal within the concrete that poses the biggest risk. Have you been into the loft, OP? You need to find out if the rafters are metal rather than wood; that would be a big, flashing "Walk away" sign to me. It is, of course, your decision.

LMCLMC

smodlet we will see what happens. perhaps the sellers will make our minds up for us and refuse the lowered offer. there are lots of other houses, just not as nice. another viewing tomorrow, so already we are starting to lean away from the house. perhaps a little more research is needed before we make a final decision. thanks for the heads up smodlet. as i say, naive FTB. and that's how they get away with it.