Proposal for father to purchase council house - how will it impact benefits

kaMelo

freesha said:

And another property taken out of the social housing stock.....

And another household no longer requiring social housing, the net result is the day after it happens everything is exactly the same as it was the day before.

The problem isn't selling homes to people, why would anyone want's to deny that aspiration to someone?
The real problem is not building enough homes to replace those that are sold off.

pickapennyup

sooner someone bans RTB the better

Ainsty

Don't forget, if you are buying a council flat you will have to pay ongoing service charges. These may be paid every month, quarter or annually. These might cover things you currently take for granted like grass cutting, lights and cleaning in the common part or things you assume are covered by council tax like road and pavement repairs.

Is the father willing to pay these costs as well as large maintenance costs? When you have a flat you are not in control of when repair costs are required or how much they cost. If the council decide to replace all the windows and the roof you will have to find some of the cost whether you want the work done or not.

HampshireH

Ainsty said:

Don't forget, if you are buying a council flat you will have to pay ongoing service charges. These may be paid every month, quarter or annually. These might cover things you currently take for granted like grass cutting, lights and cleaning in the common part or things you assume are covered by council tax like road and pavement repairs.

Is the father willing to pay these costs as well as large maintenance costs? When you have a flat you are not in control of when repair costs are required or how much they cost. If the council decide to replace all the windows and the roof you will have to find some of the cost whether you want the work done or not.

 OP says it's a house in their 2nd post so there won't be the usual cost associated with a flat. It will be their own maintenance costs.

TELLIT01

The potential financial impact of owning the home is massive.  As the couple aren't working and are surviving on benefits I suspect their council tax is paid for them either in full or part.  Possibly also their water rates. Will these payments continue if they own the property?  They have no costs for upkeep of the property.

The father may be in a position to cover these costs currently, but what will happen if his circumstances change and he is no longer able to help.  Mention of adult children implies that the father isn't young so his change of income if he retires needs to be considered.  I can really see no direct benefit to the couple of purchasing the property.

theoretica

Also, couples do split.  What happens if this one does in future and the house is owned compared to a council house?

ayupmeduck

If the disabled owner needs to go into care then won't they then need to pay as they own a property?