Social/ council housing

Misteek

Hi guys

Recently ive had a situation in my life that most likely would put me in a priority listing for a a property by the council.

I dont know where to start? Im ideally looking for a nice build type house which i can pay rent but in a few years whennmy situation improves have the right to buy. 

Can someone show mr where i can do this? 

Also is it worth buying a house like this? Does it retain its market value?

[Deleted User]

Your council will have a home finder type website where you "bid" on available social housing and where your bid goes on the list depends on your priority set by your council. You're best off asking your council or checking out their website to see how they do it in your area.

elsien

You do realise that depending on your area, you may have very little option in what you are offered and if you turn places down you may lose eligibility? 

If you can afford to wait a couple of years to hold out for a nice house in a good area then clearly you don’t need to be high priority.  

Your starting point is your local council website. They will show how the different priorities are met.  Some areas have one portal for all social housing, other areas you can apply to housing associations separately.

I’m not biting on your other query.  

elsien

ETA - your posting history shows that you were asking about how to buy your council house back in August 2020. What happened to that one? Giving up the tenancy (depending on the circumstances) may affect your eligibility this time round. 

YBR

What is your housing situation now?
It can sometimes take a very long time to get "suitable" council housing and that's without being picky for a a "nice" one.
You may therefore be better to stay where you are.

Maskface

It's not a simple process. With many councils you won't even get on the waiting list unless you fit certain criteria. Last April I had a social services assessment which deemed my current council property unsuitable because it can't be adapted for my needs. That assessment got me put on the waiting list where I can now bid for properties but the wait time to actually get shortlisted is up to 14 years. Yes. You read that right.

Every property I bid on even though I am in the highest priority bracket, I don't even make the shortlist. The shortlist is decided based on who has been on the waiting list the longest and the properties so far are all going to people who have been on the bidding list many years. I will be bidding for years before I have been on the list long enough to even get shortlisted, so unless you are prepared to live in the worst property that nobody else has bid on don't expect to find your dream home with social housing. Im 50 now and I'll be in my 60s and the best of my active years will be gone before I get anywhere near being shortlisted unless a miracle happens.

Don't expect to be able to pick and choose the sort of property you would like and don't assume that just because you are in a priority list it will fast track you to a property. I am disabled, I have a supporting letter from social services and I'm in the high priority group because I have a condition which is being made worse by my property but I still have to bid against dozens of other people and am not even being shortlisted because they have all been on the list longer than me. Priority means very little anymore.