Any point buying a council house if rent is free and you're long term disabled

Chavez2012

I won't be working again probably I'm forty nine and have a severe autoi.mine condition

I got bullied volunteer working in a. Bloody CAB of all.places before lockdown and it screwwd.me.up 

horsewithnoname

What exactly are you asking?

Alderbank

Autoimmune diseases aren't fun and can be life changing but they don't mean you will never work again.

Chavez2012

I have massive muscle wastage and i.licence and brain fog

I have twenty grand saved and. No pension

Should I buy my council.flat or not

_Penny_Dreadful

Chavez2012 said:

I have massive muscle wastage and i.licence and brain fog

I have twenty grand saved and. No pension

Should I buy my council.flat or not

Probably not.  I'm assuming that whilst you are unable to work your rent is covered by housing benefit or universal credit.  The council is responsible for maintenance and repairs of the flat, if you buy it then you will become responsible for those repairs.  You'd also have obligations under the leasehold to pay towards repairs and maintenance of the communal areas too and that can get very expensive.

Chavez2012

I get pip and esa
The flat would cost fifty grand

_Penny_Dreadful

Chavez2012 said:

I get pip and esa
The flat would cost fifty grand

You're 30k short and I'm not sure you'd qualify for a mortgage.  You would also be left with nothing to pay for maintenance and repairs.

Chavez2012

I could add value by getting new doors in

I could get a job I. Permitted work

Mortgages would be buttons 

you th ink there is any point people of shpu!d I 're by until I do

If I got a job again would I has To pay rent in retirement

Jude57

Chavez2012 said:

I could add value by getting new doors in

I could get a job I. Permitted work

Mortgages would be buttons 

you th ink there is any point people of shpu!d I 're by until I do

If I got a job again would I has To pay rent in retirement

Even if you buy your flat, it will be leasehold so you may not be allowed to change external doors and windows because the block has to all be the same. And secure, fire retardant external (or internal) doors are very expensive. At the moment, your tenancy gets you security, all repairs and updates to things like electrical wiring, heating system and so on, as well as, adaptations if your physical health means you need extra help in the home such as a level access shower, or even a move to a home more suitable for your needs. If you buy your flat, you become totally responsible for pretty much all that with the added burden that, if the landlord decides to install new windows, doors or anything else in the block, you have to pay for yours because you own your flat but you won't be able to refuse to do the work or have any say in when it's done. My Housing Association has legally broken into flats in my block when owners tried to refuse safety work. There's virtually no help for homeowners who are struggling to afford repairs.

Being a homeowner can be expensive, stressful and difficult. I'd say, in your circumstances, don't do it.

theoretica

Buying only seems to be an advantage to me if you have plans to sell and live somewhere else.

Mildreds_Earrings

Agree with @Jude57 that in your circumstances, I wouldn't recommend it. 

You appear to be looking at the mortgage only but even if you have a large deposit, as you've been out of work, there is no guarantee you'll get a mortgage and at 49 years, once you reach 50 years, it's even harder to get a mortgage.

As a leaseholder in social housing, you will be obligated to pay towards repairs and maintenance of the whole block and if any major works are planned, you will have to pay thousands of pounds towards that.

Also consider the resale value, do many flats in your block sell? I work for a social housing provider and we often end up buying the property back from the former tenant and we don't pay the market price. It's rather unfortunate but when leaseholders see the major works invoice and that they cannot afford to pay it, they practically beg us to purchase it back, which we only will do if it benefits us, and we will not pay the market price. 

Ask your Council or Housing Association if you can have a draft copy of the lease to find out your obligations as a leaseholder and ask them if any major works are planned on your building in the next five years and can they share the anticipated costs per leaseholder, with you. 

All the best.