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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don’t want to buy a house directly opposite affordable housing

342 replies

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 17:34

I have name changed for this because I expect to get annihilated.

DH and I are considering reserving a plot on a new development. I think all developments now need to have a certain amount of affordable housing. Our first choice of house would be directly opposite three affordable plots and this is a real sticking point. DH is also wary. There were originally 8 plots with our preferred design of house, they have all sold except this one and I suspect that’s the reason.

Of course we could always go with our Plan B type of house round the corner, but that seems such a shame. When we bought our current home, 12 years ago. One of the mortgage questions was proximity to any affordable housing, so its clearly an issue.

Am I worrying unnecessarily?

OP posts:
Original poster
SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:13

What the OP isn’t telling us is whether this is one of several good options for her family or more a case of should they buy this as the only decent house they can afford or keep renting.

@Notthetoothfairy the development in question is one of several options. But it’s our favourite!

OP posts:
sst1234 · 31/12/2022 20:19

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

sst1234 · 31/12/2022 20:23

LadyVictoriaSponge · 31/12/2022 19:54

This is being repeated over and over again on this thread but it is just not true, go on street checker and compare the crime stats and anti social behaviour between exclusively owner occupier roads to social/council housing estates, certainly in my town it does not back up what many claim on here that all the anti social behaviour and crime is coming from the large detached owner occupied properties.

Show quote history

Exactly. Not sure why people want to perpetuate this through anecdotes. Affordable/social housing is cheaper because it’s less desirable. The market value of tells you this. If there were two identical houses, which were same in every way, the affordable/social housing plot would always be cheaper.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:23

LadyVictoriaSponge · 31/12/2022 19:45

No matter what the anger or virtue signalling from people on this thread it is true you are more likely to get anti social behaviour and unkempt properties on areas of council/social housing, if you are investing your money in property location I’d the most important thing, I wouldn’t choose to buy a property opposite social housing as the chances for anti social behaviour are higher.

And here we have yet another poster who doesn't know that affordable housing is not the same thing as social housing.

It's really not that hard to Google nowadays, but seems people are happy to continue in their ignorance.

Original poster
SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:24

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

@sst1234 thank you, I suspect you are right. I didn’t expect so many angry responses to my post though.

OP posts:
ItsBritneyBitch45 · 31/12/2022 20:25

People like the OP really believe social/affordable housing is like living next to a crack den or a whore house.

These are normal people and just because someone has a mortgage, it doesn’t mean they’re any better to live next too…

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/12/2022 20:27

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:24

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

@sst1234 thank you, I suspect you are right. I didn’t expect so many angry responses to my post though.

Of course you did, that's why you changed your name.

Sakura7 · 31/12/2022 20:27

You could just as easily buy in a nice established estate and the council could buy the house next door. Or your neighbours could rent to 'undesirable' tenants.

If it's generally a nice area and you like the house, those factors are more important.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:28

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:24

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

@sst1234 thank you, I suspect you are right. I didn’t expect so many angry responses to my post though.

Really?

You made a post proving that you don't know and can't be bothered to research the difference between affordable and social/council housing and then attributed clear stereotypes to the "types of people" that would be occupying the affordable housing opposite your desired plot. Then you also showed that you don't even know why developers would clearly outline which plots were affordable housing-instead trying to pitch it as a "warning." When it's just a clear demarcation for prospective buyers to know which plots they can and can't afford.

Your posts highlight what a snob you are. You can absolutely choose to not purchase the plot. That's your choice and you're free to make it, but don't expect nice, kind responses whilst showing how ignorant and unkind you are.

theholidaymum · 31/12/2022 20:29

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:24

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

@sst1234 thank you, I suspect you are right. I didn’t expect so many angry responses to my post though.

I wouldn’t risk it if it’s my hard earn money to put down either. Personally when I bought our house, I went into check a street, sold prices in near by properties, it will tell you % of people live in the street/area, and house much the houses sold nearby.
unless I can get a generous discount from the builder, I would look elsewhere. Not worth the risks imo.

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:31

Alexandernevermind · 31/12/2022 17:41

Ha ha, funny post.
Affordable doesn't mean rough, it just means starter home 🤣🤣

Affordable housing in planning terms and housing legislation means council or social housing specifically.

OnTheRoadAgain1 · 31/12/2022 20:34

Brackenfield · 31/12/2022 18:07

Can't wait for the Op to learn what the residents in the "older" part of the town/village thinks of those in the new build estate, affordable or not. Pearl clutching all round

I know! My goodness, the outrage in our (quite large) village when planning permission was granted for a new housing estate. "Not in keeping with the tone of the village" and "ruining the sense of community/our countryside" were a couple of the comments I read on my local page.

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:34

Personally, if your only pause is 3 social housing plots... I'd say that's silly and I would choose your preferred type of home.

But just in general, I think a lot of people do not understand that affordable housing is a specific term for social/ council housing. At least going by this thread.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:34

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:31

Affordable housing in planning terms and housing legislation means council or social housing specifically.

Show quote history

Except it doesn't.

I live in affordable housing. I pay a mortgage. I paid a deposit. My home is not remotely owned by the council at all.

When developers decide to develop a specific area, they have to agree with the council to provide a certain percentage of "affordable" homes to local residents or key workers in the area. That's it. Beyond that agreement, the council don't own the properties at all.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:35

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:34

Personally, if your only pause is 3 social housing plots... I'd say that's silly and I would choose your preferred type of home.

But just in general, I think a lot of people do not understand that affordable housing is a specific term for social/ council housing. At least going by this thread.

Still not code for "social housing."

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 31/12/2022 20:36

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:24

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

@sst1234 thank you, I suspect you are right. I didn’t expect so many angry responses to my post though.

Yes you did. You literally explained that's why you name changed

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:38

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:34

Except it doesn't.

I live in affordable housing. I pay a mortgage. I paid a deposit. My home is not remotely owned by the council at all.

When developers decide to develop a specific area, they have to agree with the council to provide a certain percentage of "affordable" homes to local residents or key workers in the area. That's it. Beyond that agreement, the council don't own the properties at all.

Show quote history

Do you have a shared equity deal? This is usually done with a housing association and is sometimes included in the umbrella term affordable housing as there is a temporary rental aspect with a social housing group.

OnTheRoadAgain1 · 31/12/2022 20:40

sst1234 · 31/12/2022 20:19

OP, people will fall over themselves trying to convince you to do it, but ultimately these things lower the value of your property. So if you do buy it, know that in the future your house will be worth less than similar houses that are not facing the affordable plots. Nothing to do with snobbery, it’s just the way it is.

It lowers the value BECAUSE of snobbery. Because some people are reluctant through stereotypes and won't pay the same as the other houses on the estate so will buy elsewhere.

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:40

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:35

Still not code for "social housing."

Show quote history

Not code. But literally what is meant in legislation. When governments (Westminster, Scotland, Wales et Al) talk about affordable housing that is exactly what they mean. Affordable housing targets mean social housing, council housing, or shared equity housing (where the shared equity is usually under written by a housing association).

Source: have actually helped draft housing and planning legislation in the past.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:42

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:38

Do you have a shared equity deal? This is usually done with a housing association and is sometimes included in the umbrella term affordable housing as there is a temporary rental aspect with a social housing group.

Show quote history

No, I don't.

I own my home and my mortgage same as everyone else. My home was sold as a DOMV-Discounted Open Market Value-which means I got x percentage off the open market value for my property, but I own my property fully.

Affordable housing isn't code council/social housing. Some shared equity deals can include HA's but not all, so it's worth OP enquiring what the deals are with the affordable housing on the estate she's looking into.

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:42

To note, the majority of social housing and shared equity homes are not provided by councils - but by housing associations nowadays.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:42

*pay my mortgage!

If only there was an edit button!

Original poster
SpainToday · 31/12/2022 20:45

Before Christmas, DH researched ‘affordable housing’ but got about 20 different answers. When the builders re-open next week, we will try to get their definition of the term

OP posts:
EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:46

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:42

No, I don't.

I own my home and my mortgage same as everyone else. My home was sold as a DOMV-Discounted Open Market Value-which means I got x percentage off the open market value for my property, but I own my property fully.

Affordable housing isn't code council/social housing. Some shared equity deals can include HA's but not all, so it's worth OP enquiring what the deals are with the affordable housing on the estate she's looking into.

Show quote history

Then your house is not covered by the specific legal term. That is just the term the developer/ local council has chosen to use. Which isn't helpful as it causes loads of confusion. I do agree that if concerned the OP should ask what the deal is. Though I personally would not be concerned regardless.

EsmeSusanOgg · 31/12/2022 20:47

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 20:42

*pay my mortgage!

If only there was an edit button!

An edit button would be the single greatest update to MN..

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