We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
Any point buying a council house if rent is free and you're long term disabled
Comments
-
If you believe you would require a job to own your flat, then it may be best to focus on that first.
.and if course you would need to assess whether, financially, taking a job would leave you worse off. Which depends on the specifics of your situation.1 -
If your figure is 80% that must include home owners who were never council tenants. Then the reasons are mixed, but would include not ever being given a council property.Chavez2012 said:If its so terrible why did literally eighty percent of .uk neighbourhood do.it
There is a big difference between buying your council house and buying your council flat. The latter could leave you with big bills down the line and problems in selling.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.4 -
It's a four in a block not a flat per we
Why does Emma day it's a no brainer yet very other respondent says it's dumb ?
Feels like the answers are in bad fatigue not wanting me to get money0 -
They said "if you are working and can afford to pay all the maintenance and extra costs" then it's a no brainer. Otherwise, they agreed with everyone else.Chavez2012 said:It's a four in a block not a flat per we
Why does Emma day it's a no brainer yet very other respondent says it's dumb ?
Feels like the answers are in bad fatigue not wanting me to get money
You are not working, don't ever plan to be, and don't have income to cover all the maintenance and extra costs.
Sounds like you've already decided though - and accusing everyone who doesn't agree with you of just "not wanting you to get money" is pretty bad form.6 -
Are you now saying it is a "cluster home" rather than a flat?
Buying a council flat is no longer recommended because of both the possibility of horrendous repair/maintenance costs the freeholder can impose on leaseholders and the poor resale value as would be purchasers would be aware of such costs, so the flats are not an attractive proposition.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales2 -
Bear in mind if your plan is to buy at a significant discount, then sell on and take the profit, most local authorities are now taking steps to ensure that there is a clause written in that for the first X number of years if selling you have to offer it back to them for first refusal, and there is always a period of time at the beginning after you have purchased where if re-selling you have to pay back the discount, IIRC.
Also, if your plan suggests working in order to be able to get a mortgage, then bear in mind it may not be as simple as just saying you are unable to work again once the mortgage is cleared. If your long term plan is not to return to/stay in paid employment, then staying put as you are would be far more advantageous for you.🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1 -
This thread is fast approaching the 'wind up' threshold for me...9
-
I’m not sure this thread is going to offer more help to the OP. For a couple of reasons I’ve asked the Forum Team to review the thread and I’m going to close it until they have done so.Thanks to those that have commented and wishing you all the best OP. @Chavez2012 if you want the thread reopened, you can email the Forum Team directly forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.7
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.8K Spending & Discounts
- 246.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 260K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards


