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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not by my council home and move

36 replies

Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 10:39

Firstly I am not really wanting a debate about weather or not buying council homes is wrong or right.

Just some advice about weather you think we did the right thing I have no family to speak of so no one to really ask

We live in a council home in London and would have got 100k off the asking price which still would of made the house £200 however as you can Imagine the house is a dump and would need at least £80k worth of work

For instance currently we rats have chewed through the electrics in the walls we haven't had any power in our kitchen for 3 months the council said were on the list

The walls are blown and the whole house would need to be replastred
And the down stairs is so tiny we the only furniture we can keep in here is a sofa so we would need a extension
The bathroom also has rising damp and the drain out side has not worked since before we moved in so it would need a lot of work.

The thought of buying this house for 200k then borrowing another 80k to do this house up made me Ill and the actually reality is more like we could of brought the house and not been able to afford to do it up

We have now finalised buying a three bed in Bedfordshire with a garage and a conservatory that has apart from decoration and a new boiler needs no work and is massive granted the garden is smaller

I really love London and had no issues here however we did worry if we stayed apart from "having a home in London" their are not many other benefits as we would have to do so much work on this house and our children would not be able to buy nor rent.
And I don't really want my children living at home in their 30s due to lack of choice

I am really panicking we are due to move into our new home in a week and I wondering if were doing the right thing

OP posts:
Original poster
Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 10:42

I never owned a home
Never lived outside London

And feeling very frightened

OP posts:
Tutt · 07/09/2014 10:46

You own a house and have a council house? I think that is morally disgusting.

TidyDancer · 07/09/2014 10:50

I took it to understand the OP was in the process of buying a house, is that not correct?

OP, only you know if you are doing the right thing.

PenisesAreNotPink · 07/09/2014 10:50

It's too late now to ask for advice. Your move to Bedfordshire will be fine Smile

It's not what I would have done since you've thrown away 100k - I'd have stayed and done it up - but that's because I'm planning on moving to London in a couple of years.

You've done the right thing for you and your family.

The council will now improve it a little and RE let it.

TrixieLunamoon · 07/09/2014 10:50

Why is it disgusting Tutt, they've only just bought the house and are leaving the council house next week Confused.

Slavetothecat · 07/09/2014 10:53

I think you're doing the right thing. Beds is ok, though a little bland for my taste. Give it six months and you'll be fine.

Tutt, read the OP properly.

Tutt · 07/09/2014 10:53

Shit sorry OP I read it wrong oops.

LEMmingaround · 07/09/2014 10:54

Definitely the right move. Congratulations on your new home. The council will now have to refurb your house and another family will have a home. Win win

Trills · 07/09/2014 10:55

You've already done it, so I don't really know what you are asking for.

Do you want us to go there there and tell you that living outside of London is really not like living on another planet?

I'd question your assumption that your children (when they grow up) will be trying to buy or rent in the same area that you live. Their ability to rent or buy a house will depend on where THEY live and work, not on where YOU live.

TickleMyTitsTillFriday · 07/09/2014 10:55

Sounds to be me like you have been sensible.

Yes, you have missed out on that 100k but it could have also been a total money pit.

cricketpitch · 07/09/2014 10:56

Tutt, as i understood it they are leaving the council house in order to buy. Surely that frees up the house for someone else who might need it. OP is asking whether she did the right thing by not staying.

cricketpitch · 07/09/2014 10:58

OP Sounds as though you have thought this through and made a choice based on sensible reasons. Not the time to have doubts. Go for it! Enjoy your new home.

MrsWinnibago · 07/09/2014 10:59

My sister regrets buying hers.

Original poster
Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 11:01

Tut

We have owned a house for exactly two weeks were moving out end of this week

Sorry but we were unable to move in the same day we competed Confused

OP posts:
orangepudding · 07/09/2014 11:01

I don't understand how it makes a difference to whether your children will be living at home in their 30s.

I rented in London with DH and we bought our first house there. We moved away as we needs somewhere bigger.

We no longer live in London but still can't see how my children will be able to afford what we could. I wouldn't be surprised if they still lived at home in their 30s and expect many of their friends will be in the same position!

Original poster
Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 11:02

Add message | Report | Message poster MrsWinnibago Sun 07-Sep-14 10:59:59
My sister regrets buying hers.

can you say a little more

OP posts:
AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 07/09/2014 11:02

I agree with the other posters that have said that it was a good decision. You have to do what is best for you. Now your council house will be available for another family. I hate seeing people buy their council houses as that just depletes the stock further. Much better to buy something else if you can and leave the council property for someone else. I understand though, that with the Right to Buy in place, sometimes that's the only way some may be able to afford to buy the house.

Best of luck with your move!

wigglylines · 07/09/2014 11:12

I can't advise on the council house bit, but I sold a flat in London to buy a house in a small town. I'm well aware that it wasn't a sound financial move. We sold the flat for £250K a couple of years ago. My old area is having a boom, and it's probably worth about £40K more in just a couple of years.

However, it's not about money for us, it's about quality of life. My kids' childhood is now. If we'd held on to make the most money out of it we could have been there forever!

I had never lived out of London before we moved. I do love London and miss it occasionally. But I'm loving the adventure of being somewhere new. Also my DCs have the kind of childhood I would have struggled to give them in London.

trixymalixy · 07/09/2014 11:16

I think you're doing absolutely the right thing for your family. Good luck!

Original poster
Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 11:27

Thanks wiggy

I think you have hit the nail on the head I don't want an investment I want a home

OP posts:
legoqueen · 07/09/2014 11:39

It sounds like a sensible financial decision - the initial purchase is one thing but being able to afford repairs etc particularly given all the defects is another. I'm sure you'll settle into your new house quickly - good luck. Also good that council house will be available to another family who can't afford to buy. Win-win...

Bouttimeforwine · 07/09/2014 11:45

Well I suppose you might have been able to buy it and then sell it immediately as a doer upper, but that isn't a very moral move. Apart from that enjoy your move. It sounds as if it is right for you.

KillmeNow · 07/09/2014 11:47

I think you made the right descision.

If you look at the figures you gave £100k off the market price but it is a dump and needs about £80k spending on it to make it properly habitable then you have only lost out on £20k. That amount is lost by people selling houses all of the time even in good markets.

Enjoy your house and exploring the possibilities of your new area. London is always there for visiting and rediscovering old haunts so is not completely out of your lives. But your childrens lives will be so much better for the move.

Rainicorn · 07/09/2014 11:48

As I understand it, it is almost impossible to get a council house in London, long 10year waiting lists etc, so I think morally you are doing what is right Op by freeing up a much needed family home for a family who will benefit from it greatly.

Let's just hope the council do loll the repairs before the new tenants move in.

Mandyandme · 07/09/2014 12:09

Why didn't you ask advice before?

I would have been on to the council to address the issues of your council house. Calling day and night until they got sick of me then I would have bought then I would have bought the council house.

Personally I grew up in the north and couldn't wait to escape. I came to London by accident rather than planning and immediately felt like I had come home. work took me to living in the Cotswold and we lived there for 10 years. I hated it from day 1. It was like living on another planet. I can sympathise with you but I think you have left it too late to do anything about it now. I certainly wouldn't have turned down £100,000. It takes a long time to save that amount.

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