Right to buy

missprice

If the mortgage is a problem because of no deposit can you acquire your ha house.
Houses even ex ha houses are generally worth more than flats. Also more people want to buy a house than a flat (yes I am generalizing)
At least with your house, assuming freehold, there will be no bills you cant control. Plus you know already if the house is falling apart and needs work.
And finally, if your pension isn't enough you will be entitled to housing benefit as long as needed and no one will throw you out of your rented home so long as your trying to get rent paid if you did have problems.
I think at your age it's a bad idea to buy a council flat, but that's just my opinion.

seven-day-weekend

missprice wrote: »

If the mortgage is a problem because of no deposit can you acquire your ha house.
Houses even ex ha houses are generally worth more than flats. Also more people want to buy a house than a flat (yes I am generalizing)
At least with your house, assuming freehold, there will be no bills you cant control. Plus you know already if the house is falling apart and needs work.
And finally, if your pension isn't enough you will be entitled to housing benefit as long as needed and no one will throw you out of your rented home so long as your trying to get rent paid if you did have problems.
I think at your age it's a bad idea to buy a council flat, but that's just my opinion.

Not if they have bought it.

JayRitchie

Hi OP

I think its an idea you are right to consider. Few question if I may:

- how much do you like your current house? Would it be a real pain to move?
- for the flat you might move to, how many stories are there in the block. I wouldn't consider buying any LA property over 3 stories, especially if I might want to sell it in the future.
- Which part of the country are you in? If you sold in 5 years for the £140k what could you buy locally to your work?
- How much would (at current prices) a house by the sea that you mentioned cost?

t0rt0ise

Rosieandjim wrote: »

I also think you need to find out from your council that you did not break you secure tenancy by going into a HA property. Also agree with above that most councils are giving introductory tenancies first to make sure you are able to pay your rent and are a responsible person.

The rules are that if you exchange and have a lifetime tenancy which started before 2012 you will be given another lifetime tenancy. If your tenancy started later, you take on the type of tenancy the leaving tenant had.

[Deleted User]

t0rt0ise wrote: »

The rules are that if you exchange and have a lifetime tenancy which started before 2012 you will be given another lifetime tenancy. If your tenancy started later, you take on the type of tenancy the leaving tenant had.

My friend exchanged from a HA she'd been with since the mid 90s to another and was give a short tenancy when she'd previously been assured so there must be exceptions.

t0rt0ise

_shel wrote: »

My friend exchanged from a HA she'd been with since the mid 90s to another and was give a short tenancy when she'd previously been assured so there must be exceptions.

I'd do some research if I were them. Ask Shelter and look at the actual legislation to see if there are exceptions.

[Deleted User]

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I'd do some research if I were them. Ask Shelter and look at the actual legislation to see if there are exceptions.

I will thanks, she might get lucky xx

GibbsRule_No3

_shel wrote: »

My friend exchanged from a HA she'd been with since the mid 90s to another and was give a short tenancy when she'd previously been assured so there must be exceptions.

Wonder if there is a difference if you swap between Council and Housing Association property? I went from a Council flat after 40 years to a Housing Association, via downsizing, I thought I might have been given a short (10 years?) tenancy after reading various bits in the brochure, at my age I didn’t think it would matter, as I didn’t think they’d evict a 70+ year old who’d caused no trouble after 10 years, but when I signed I was told that it was an assured tenancy (so I was relatively safe for life or need to be put in a home) and the lady was a bit surprised since she told me they were rare.
Did any government ever bring in a clause that could evict, if they thought new people living in Council properties could pay for private rent or buy their own private property after a number of years living in a Council property? I thought it was someone’s proposal at one time.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

GibbsRule_No3 wrote: »

Did any government ever bring in a clause that could evict, if they thought new people living in Council properties could pay for private rent or buy their own private property after a number of years living in a Council property? I thought it was someone’s proposal at one time.

That was the 'Pay to Stay' scheme that died a death completely - thank goodness

Ratkin007

Why not consider exchanging to a house. I believe a flat is a bad idea because of service charges and major works. If going for a flat avoid one with a lift. That said, with home ownership you are responsible for repairs and maintenance. Mutual exchange is an assignment of tenancy. Introductory tenants do not have the right to exchange so you will not get an Introductory tenancy. You will need to check the tenancy of the person you are exchanging with as as there are different types of tenancies so can be for a fixed period (flexible tenancies) but not all authorities use them.