Buying ex council properties

Arsenal2019

Mr.Generous said:

I've bought, renovated and sold quite a few former council houses. Good solid built homes, maintained ok but things like windows and doors were cheapest and not fitted well. They make a good project for a renovator because they fix up, they sell and they rent out.

Biggest issue has been neighbors can be hit and miss. After we bought one particular house the one next door went downhill really fast, just started dumping crap in the garden. Sofa, christmas tree (artificial), old video unit, knackered mower, kids toys. We ended up having to clear that garden free gratis to sell ours. Complaining to tenant and housing association was a waste of time.

Housing association spoke to tenant who said she had "Big plans for the garden" and they just accepted that. They even said to us "What do you expect us to do - we aren't ever going to evict for a garden"

Try selling a lovely renovated house next to a rubbish dump.

Thank you for your reply- i appreciate if

That’s what I’m scared of too- being next door to someone who simply doesn’t give a **** about their house or garden . But I guess you could get that anywhere.

my biggest worry is being able to sell the property when the time comes (if I do buy)

Pondskater

I was raised in a council house, built shortly after the war, very poor quality. Have bought an ex council house built in the 30s, solid, sound proof, goods sized garden, now live in modern build in private estate. Had some good and bad neighbours in each property. I would say that council estates have a higher proportion of poorly kept gardens than any private estate I have lived in. Just some thoughts, good luck.

markin

High % rental areas are usually the new council sink estates, so pick a street on the rental tab and include let properties, if half the street is for let and with rather low rents with high turn over the could be problems, but even good area can have a bad tenant or home owner.

And you should know how to use https://www.police.uk/


When google worked it was easy to just go 'town new council homes' and get news and pics from 1960's 70s 80s

theartfullodger

Arsenal2019 said:

Mr.Generous said:

I've bought, renovated and sold quite a few former council houses. Good solid built homes, maintained ok but things like windows and doors were cheapest and not fitted well. They make a good project for a renovator because they fix up, they sell and they rent out.

Biggest issue has been neighbors can be hit and miss. After we bought one particular house the one next door went downhill really fast, just started dumping crap in the garden. Sofa, christmas tree (artificial), old video unit, knackered mower, kids toys. We ended up having to clear that garden free gratis to sell ours. Complaining to tenant and housing association was a waste of time.

Housing association spoke to tenant who said she had "Big plans for the garden" and they just accepted that. They even said to us "What do you expect us to do - we aren't ever going to evict for a garden"

Try selling a lovely renovated house next to a rubbish dump.

.................

That’s what I’m scared of too- being next door to someone who simply doesn’t give a **** about their house or garden . ...

Think I've said this before but in my experience people living in council or housing association properties (or ex either..) are usually more decent, pleasant, friendlier and at least aren;t banging on about property prices all the time.  

Have been owner of at one time 4 ex-social houses, now one only (getting out due age, nothing to do with tax or legislation), in my experience they had/have better building standards and quality compared to many cheapo developer shacks...

Best wishes to all

Arsenal2019

Pondskater said:

I was raised in a council house, built shortly after the war, very poor quality. Have bought an ex council house built in the 30s, solid, sound proof, goods sized garden, now live in modern build in private estate. Had some good and bad neighbours in each property. I would say that council estates have a higher proportion of poorly kept gardens than any private estate I have lived in. Just some thoughts, good luck.

Hi- yes that’s what I thought too. I’ve only ever lived in  none-council houses before and my experiences have been that the houses and gardens have always been well kept. But I guess you could have poorly kept houses / gardens which are privately owned too

eddddy

If the house is on an estate, it's probably worth asking about estate management charges.

i.e. House owners might be required to contribute to the maintenance (or even upgrade) of communal areas on the estate - like estate roads, green areas, play areas, etc.


Anecdotally, some people say that in the early days of council house sales, councils hadn't thought of this, so didn't make buyers liable to contribute.

But they later realised the opportunity, and added it to the deeds of later house sales.

So you might find 2 similar houses on the same estate, with different liabilities for estate management charges - depending on when they were originally sold by the council.

jimbog

Slinky said:

How about the radical option - try asking the estate agent if it's ex-council.

be aware that an EA will only probably tell you what you want to hear

sheramber

Mr.Generous said:

I've bought, renovated and sold quite a few former council houses. Good solid built homes, maintained ok but things like windows and doors were cheapest and not fitted well. They make a good project for a renovator because they fix up, they sell and they rent out.

Biggest issue has been neighbors can be hit and miss. After we bought one particular house the one next door went downhill really fast, just started dumping crap in the garden. Sofa, christmas tree (artificial), old video unit, knackered mower, kids toys. We ended up having to clear that garden free gratis to sell ours. Complaining to tenant and housing association was a waste of time.

Housing association spoke to tenant who said she had "Big plans for the garden" and they just accepted that. They even said to us "What do you expect us to do - we aren't ever going to evict for a garden"

Try selling a lovely renovated house next to a rubbish dump.

That was the position on the private estate I used to live on. Front garden was full of rubbish, including an old wrecked car dumped in the middle of it 

Or the one across the road which had large craters dug out of the front garden by the kids to use as dug outs in their games. That house was owned by  a social worker. 

When the new owners moved in they discovered a toilet that was caked black and disgusting. 

Bad neighbours exist everywhere.

Mgman1965

Family member bought an ex LA terraced house in a nice area.

House next door is still council owned and was empty and being renovated by the council. 

The new tenants have been in a year now.

They are the slobby neighbours from hell.

Their big brute of a dog has turned the now wild, untouched garden into a smelly disgusting poop pit.

Thee dog barks constantly every time they go out.

They are noisy, TV, shouting,  slamming doors.

And above all have had the bloody cheek to complain to the council, saying family members 8 month old cocker puppy barks a lot !!!!!!  (This was, coincidently, just after they were politely asked to keep their dog under control in the garden, see below).

Family member has now counter complained to the council about their dog barking (keeping a diary of time, duration and dates) and about damage to the fence (family members) caused by their vicious dog trying to get at the puppy when in the garden. 

It's all getting very messy.

Arsenal2019

Mgman1965 said:

Family member bought an ex LA terraced house in a nice area.

House next door is still council owned and was empty and being renovated by the council. 

The new tenants have been in a year now.

They are the slobby neighbours from hell.

Their big brute of a dog has turned the now wild, untouched garden into a smelly disgusting poop pit.

Thee dog barks constantly every time they go out.

They are noisy, TV, shouting,  slamming doors.

And above all have had the bloody cheek to complain to the council, saying family members 8 month old cocker puppy barks a lot !!!!!!  (This was, coincidently, just after they were politely asked to keep their dog under control in the garden, see below).

Family member has now counter complained to the council about their dog barking (keeping a diary of time, duration and dates) and about damage to the fence (family members) caused by their vicious dog trying to get at the puppy when in the garden. 

It's all getting very messy.

Now I can appreciate this could happen anywhere but THIS is what I would be scared of!