Advice on RTB council flat -( buying) single parent with child 9 yo

pasok11

My relative has been living in a council flat with her child for a number of years, she did put her name on a waiting list for a bigger flat, but has not been able to get a bigger place so far. She lives in a 1-bedroom flat.  Not she has got an offer from council to use RTB. What would people say - pros and cons please? Thank you

strawb_shortcake

I would avoid, your relative would be tied to the flat for 5 years unless they are happy to hand back some of the discount, both the parent and child need privacy and this will only become a greater requirement as time goes on. 
Costs of leasehold, and possible shared costs can be high.
Resell may be harder on a one bed flat depending on the area. 
A one bed flat is not suitable long term for a parent and child, I would either hold out for a larger property or look for somewhere more suitable outside of social accommodation 

FtbDreaming

Im doing right to Acquire which is similar. 

If she buys it she’s stuck there for the next 5-10 years otherwise she will owe the council some or all of the discount back. If its only one bedroom it doesn't sound ideal to buy with a child. The 9 year old will soon be 13+  and both of them will need personal space. Plus with flats if you own them you will find you’re jointly responsible for the costs of communal areas or doors roof etc whenever the council decides they're doing repair works or upgrades. 

If it was a house I'm all for it. But a one bed flat sounds like a chain around your friends neck. 

pasok11

arh, it is so hard, as I doubt she would get a bigger space from council soon. An option to go into non-councl system (private renting) is so insecure. 

HampshireH

It's very strange she isnt deemed as overcrowded with 2 people in a 1 bed flat where one is a 9 year old child.

Is her housing application actually up to date or is she relying on a swap. In most places someone who has waited 9 years sharing a bedroom with a child would be high priority on the waiting list.

Very unusual and possibly worth a meeting with the housing options team.

Buying sounds like an awful idea.

MobileSaver

pasok11 said:

She lives in a 1-bedroom flat.  she has got an offer from council to use RTB. What would people say - pros and cons please?

I can't think of a single good reason why she would consider buying something that is already unsuitable. We all like a bargain/discount but buying something just for the sake of it sounds a really bad idea.