Buying on a council estate

Davesnave

The other thing to take account of is the fact that you shouldn't be paying top dollar if there's any sort of stigma attached; be it through the neighbourhood, the type of construction, or even the possibility of some green spaces being filled-in. Where I used to live there were a few really pleasant local authority estates with open spaces and views, now subject to 'development' thanks to land values.

Usually, the local authority element is priced-in, so it'll be  possibly more up-together than the alternative in a private road. You'll just have to make a decision based on what's most important to you, as first houses are always a compromise.

I chose crappy house on best street and so did my eldest child. Neither of us has regretted it financially, but the dedication to DIY wasn't an optional extra; it was compulsory!

GixerKate

As others have said, it depends on the location.  My previous house was on a housing estate, probably half and half on council / private ownership and it had a questionable reputation.  We were very happy for just over ten years and only moved as we needed something bigger.  We had two buyers pull out due to COVID but each time we sold within a few days.  We also had the 'future saleability may be affected because of adverse location; a public sector housing estate' warning but it didn't stop the house from being sold.

The whole time we lived on the estate we found most people were great, it had a proper community to it.  Yes there were a few issues, perhaps a handful over 10 years with a couple of families who were moved on by the council but I had a lot more issues where I was previous to that when I was nowhere near a council estate!

swingaloo2

About 18 years ago I bought an ex council house. It was probably the best house Ive ever bought in terms of what you get for your money but the compromise is location. In my case I was about 100 yards from where the edge of the estate met the main road, it was a tree lined road, the house had a lovely field and wooded area behind it, plenty of off road parking and a fabulous big back garden. It was solid and you couldn't hear the neighbours. Probably about 80-90% of the houses were privately owned and that end of the road reflected that, the area was well cared for and the neighbours were all lovely.

But, the road I lived on was a very long one which ran from one end of the estate to the other and the other and the other end was rough with a capital R. 
Gardens full of scrap cars and men in vests knocking back the drink while the women seemed to be in pajama's sat on the door step whenever you drove past. Kids and toddlers playing in the middle of the road with no supervision whatsoever. 
I will admit that every time I had to give my address I would say N********* Road and then say 'The W****** Road end to confirm I was not from the rough end. My sister used to find it so funny and mutter 'snob' and laugh if she was with me when I did it. 
But I would have been very embarrassed to have anyone think I lived at the horrible end. After we sold to move nearer to family I remember my brother saying 'I could never understand why you bought a house on a council estate' but had we not needed to move nearer to family I would have still been there. I drive past on occasion and still think what a lovely house it was.  

From there we moved into a 3 storey new build on a quiet cul de sac and I only stayed in that house 2 years as I hated it. Paper thin walls, low ceilings, small windows.
So dont discount the council estate without sussing it out properly. Talk to people there, drive past at night to see if crowds of youths are hanging about, look at local area websites etc. There are some lovely houses come up for sale on the one nearest to us and they always seem to sell quickly.
 Whilst I was living in the new build in the 'nice area' I was making a brew in the kitchen at 6.30 one morning when I heard people running down the path between us and the semi next door. Thinking someone was going to come into my back garden I went out of the back door to see what was happening and was met by several policemen and women one of whom put her finger to her mouth in a 'shush' way and told me to go back inside and close my door whist they went into next doors garden and proceeded to use one of those battering ram things on this back door and less than 5 mins later he was in handcuffs in the back of one of the 5 police cars which had swooped into the close. Never had problems like that in my ex council house lol.

ElephantBoy57

warby68 said:

I wouldn't buy it, simple as that, if even the valuer is commenting on saleability.
TBH, I probably wouldn't buy it even without a comment. Call me a snob but council estates struggle to shake off certain reputations no matter what the reality. Might be unfair but doesn't make it not so.
Location is pretty much everything.

But you would need to pay considerably more, even then you could end up with housing assoiation tennents living close by.

Racky_Roo

My first house was ex council in a small cul de sac with huge tower blocks just round the corner. Instead of a small 2 bed non council estate house, we got a 3 bed semi with large garden and garage. When we sold 6 years later, we sold to the first people who viewed because they too were willing to compromise on location for a bigger house. As long as you price it right and understand you'll never get top dollar then you'll sell in the future.

As far as location, we never had any issues, neighbours were a mix of council and non council and were nice enough. We did do our research though, went to the local co-op and asked the staff about the area as well as checking crime statistics. I remember a local policeman telling me that people never steal from their neighbours where they'll be recognised, they go to the private estate next door 

Drawingaline

We live in an ex council house. On a huge estate. But then our town was one of the expanded ones in the 60's, so a lot of the houses are the same age, on huge estates. There are certain estates I wouldn't touch, but when we out ours up for sale the EA said that FTB are much less picky these days. 

Our house is big, (for a three bed) and has two bathrooms, the estate has nice outdoor spaces, we live in a cul-de-sac where the kids can play out, it has served us well. The only issue we have which is apparent throughout the entire estate is parking. But driving around current new build estates this doesn't seem to have been fixed there. 

We are moving on due to increased income, a need for an extra bedroom (3 kids in one room is not impossible, but becoming annoying!) And office space, and my wish for my own private parking. We sold to a landlord within a week (two offers) and hope to finally move next month. These houses rent out well apparently, and FTB wanted parking and seem prepared to live in areas I wouldn't touch in order to achieve that. 

I would buy on a council estate again no problem,as long as I knew the area well. Our estate is probably 60/40 private/housing association.

Paully28

Are you statistically likely to have worse neighbours in a council estate than you are in a non-council estate? I don't know. 
Have a look round, as you would with any house, at differing times of day/night/week to see what is going on, and this will give you a better idea of that particular place than whether we think council estates are bad/good/indifferent in general. 

FinallyStoppedLurking

Paully28 said:

Are you statistically likely to have worse neighbours in a council estate than you are in a non-council estate? I don't know. 
Have a look round, as you would with any house, at differing times of day/night/week to see what is going on, and this will give you a better idea of that particular place than whether we think council estates are bad/good/indifferent in general. 

A council estate is more likely to be an area of deprivation. An area of deprivation is more likely to have higher crime levels, anti-social behavior, drug problems etc.  

Obviously not all council estate are the same and not all people who live on a housing estate are the same.

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

What attracted you to the property? This may attract potential buyers in the future. Some council estates don't look like council estates these days. 

GixerKate

Racky_Roo said:

As far as location, we never had any issues, neighbours were a mix of council and non council and were nice enough. We did do our research though, went to the local co-op and asked the staff about the area as well as checking crime statistics. I remember a local policeman telling me that people never steal from their neighbours where they'll be recognised, they go to the private estate next door 

Same as us, being part of the estate kinda protected us in many ways I think, we just didn't have the same issues as the non-council areas up the road!