Buying ex social housing

[FirstT1meBuyer]

We are seeing a property tomorrow that is being sold by a social housing company.

DH's immediate reaction to this was that it means the neighbours/area may not be very nice as that means other properties nearby are social housing too. I am not sure I agree, as anyone can be a crap neighbour, social housing or not!

We went for a look round tonight, and there weren't gangs of youths lining the streets in fact it was quiet - although it was raining tonight so no one would be out! The area had a lot of cars parked there, so parking may be an issue, but it's an estate with the houses set back from the road so I think that's to be expected.

Opinions/thoughts?

The property market round here moves so fast that if we like it we need to put in an offer tomorrow, so I want to have done any research beforehand (hence our visit this evening!).

Thanks all!

[MattDillonsPants]

The best thing to do is to run the postcode through this website

www.police.uk/

And compare the results with where you live currently.

Having lived on 3 different council estates in my life I know that there can be a BIG variation.

I lived in one, in London where murder and muggings were common and one in the NW which was so sleepy it was like Last of the Summer Wine.

[Spandexpants007]

Yes they can range from niiice sleepy village types to dangerous and antisocial.

[Kernowgal]

I'm on one in a small village and so far it seems sleepy and peaceful. One antisocial neighbour who gets aggressive about parking so do check that out. Also check out noise levels internally - my neighbours were out when I viewed but the party wall is breeze block and might as well not be there for all the soundproofing it offers.

On the plus size, mine was built with families in mind and so the rooms are really generous, the garden is huge and there is plenty of storage. Plus it's just a short walk into the village for pub and local shop. My neighbours are a mix of private owners and HA tenants and aside from Mr Arsey above, everyone seems very nice and quiet.

[MushroomMama]

I live in an ex council house it's lovely! It's supposedly on a rough estate but I've not noticed a thing so far!

They are usually very big and well built houses. Ours is late 1930s and very solid and stays warm!

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Our water is mixed - smaller council houses higher up with a few splattered about lower down - it's quiet never seen a police car here in 5 years - we had a few thefts from cars but they weren't locals -

Knock the neighbours doors and ask some questions - this was common years ago people don't seem to do it now! They're the experts.

[Coldwatebay]

My one caveat to buying ex social housing would be whether you still pay service charge to the council/HA. If so think very hard as costs for communal cleaning, grounds maintenance etc even for a house on an estate can be massive

[Jeffjefftyjeff]

I live in an ex council house and agree with the roomy/ well built comments above. Mixture of owner occupiers and council house tenants as neighbours, more good neighbours than bad. The area does mean it will probably never be worth a lot of money. Also huge number of people with trades in the street ( not sure if coincidence!) so never short of an expert but also overrun with vans!

[TeaT1me]

We pay a service charge
... It's 1.87 ish a week! And our front garden gets mowed as part of that, and the green in front of us.

The only thing is it doesn't increase in value as much.

[fabulousathome]

I was told to avoid with the same issues as Coldwater states. Maybe that only relates to flats and not houses?

[momo142]

Have you checked the road using the website streetcheck? It uses data from the census and will tell you proportion of social housing in the postcode.

[FirstT1meBuyer]

Thanks all. I checked the crime rates last night and they were higher than our current location but it is nearer to two railway stations so perhaps to be expected. I also happened upon the census data last night which was very interesting (I'm so sad!) and actually confirmed that not many houses there are social housing or council housing. So I think I've decided I would live in the area.

However, we saw the house and it's just not for us. It needs everything doing to it - DH joked only the curtain poles would stay! We don't have the funds to throw money at it and redo it all sadly, but whover buys it will have a good project on their hands.

Sad really that the previous owner/tenant couldn't or wouldn't look after the house. He must have smoked in there as you could smell it, the carpet was trashed and the kids had drawn all over the walls! It was apparently last done up 5-6 years ago but it didn't look like it!!