Section 157 housing act help

Davesnave wrote: »

but in any event, it seems like the OP is willing to comply in due course.

The "due course" is only happening by living in the very house they don't qualify to live in:rotfl:




OP just make sure someone higher up than this "council lady" doesn't disagree with what she is telling you, if you do go for that option.

Davesnave wrote: »

Yes, by returning to the place where they grew up, where their family is and, maybe, where they found it hard to stay and follow a career path when they were younger.

Been there, done that myself.

Yes, there are rules, but the council officer may able to use a little discretion in their application. I've certainly found the council helpful in my part of Devon.

So I agree with xylophone's comments. I now live in a restricted property of a different variety from that under discussion. However, I checked that I would not run into problems with the council before purchase and I found those dealing with the matter sympathetic and supportive.

I would stress that there are 8 district councils in Devon. Their attitudes and policies , written and unwritten, appear to vary somewhat.

I'm not arguing whether it's right if the OP lives in Devon, but whether the OP needs to follow the rules or get the correct permission to buy the house.

The rule as it stands is they need to have lived in the area for the past 3 years, for you to suggested that they would be abiding by that clause after living in the house for 3 years, the house they are not allowed to buy, is daft.

Guess on that thinking I could get a job as a pilot with no experience, I'll just tell them at interview, give me the job and in a couple of years I'll have the experience.

Yes I'm sure some areas in Devon do not stick to the rules, I'm just suggesting the OP makes sure their area is one of them,before spending thousands.

Davesnave wrote: »

The local council person seemed to think this would within the spirit of the legislation and I agree, but it appears from the further comment of the OP that a more formal process exists to deal with cases like this anyway. Good.

It's your pilot analogy that's daft. There will be no significant consequences if the house is marketed openly and eventually sold to the OP. well apart from the small matter it being bought by someone that doesn't qualify for the house :eek:, so my analogy was spot on.

Since the events of 2007/8, houses with of restrictions on them have become harder to sell, as mortgage lenders take fewer risks. This has probably led to some councils taking a less hard-line approach with them, as it's in no one's interest for these properties to remain unsold. agree,the answer is make sure the council is happy for the OP to buy.

No one can possible think NOT living in the area for the past 3 years, is in the spirit of the clause, that you have to have lived in the area for the past 3 years, as you say they may just be turning a blind eye.

I realise this post is a bit old now but I thought I would add my own experience of section 157. 2 years ago we bought an ex local authority house in west Dorset which had been completely refurbished so seemed a great buy. The problem we encountered was when, just days away from exchange of contracts, we had a phone call from our mortgage provider (Britannia) to say they were withdrawing their mortgage offer as they do not lend on properties with such restrictions. They claimed they had not been told by the solicitor about this. I complained and eventually they decided to lend the money after all, whilst reminding me it was a one off and it was still their policy not to lend on properties with this restriction. So my advice to anyone thinking about buying a property which is subject to section 157, ask your lender right at the start of the application if they are happy to lend. When I started the application process I told them it was ex local authority but I never realised the significance of section 157 and never thought to mention it. Don't be caught out like we were.