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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:
RudolphTheGreat · 31/12/2022 17:52

I'm not convinced you're intelligent enough to even have responsibility for a mortgage op. I've certainly never been asked if I live near affordable housing as part of any mortgage application 🙄. How did you answer correctly when you don't even know what it is?

2reefsin30knots · 31/12/2022 17:52

The affordable houses will probably have teachers and junior doctors in them.

MoscowMules · 31/12/2022 17:53

You will just live opposite young working families, and young professional couples getting their foot on the ladder.

I love in social housing...the only time my house was burgled is when I lived in home I owned before I was widowed in a nice "posh estate" and the only neighbour disputes I ever witnessed was in the "posh" estate. It was spectacular someone but a brick through their neighbours mercedes Benz windshield over a dispute about a barking Pomeranian 😂 but that's another thread in itself.

My social housing neighbours are lovely, another single mum one side and an elderly couple the other side of me 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn't let it out you off.

PoppyBlunt · 31/12/2022 17:53

There's some confusion on this thread as to what affordable housing is. Here's a definition...

Affordable housing, which can be for either rent or sale, is for those whose needs are not met by the market. It includes different tenures, including social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership, among others.

Ayeaken · 31/12/2022 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

That's completely wrong.

Thesearmsofmine · 31/12/2022 17:53

Don’t worry Op, those of us who are on low incomes can’t afford affordable housing either.

MissDollyMix · 31/12/2022 17:54

Maybe they weren’t warning you? Maybe they were pointing out the affordable housing as they thought it might be an option you would qualify for?

ExtraOnions · 31/12/2022 17:54

I would 100x be happier living next to people in Affordable Housing, than some stuck up twat with an over-inflated sense of self-importance.

It’s a new build, it’s not Kensington Palace

justasking111 · 31/12/2022 17:54

We've had three estates built in our village in the last decade. There are problems here and there with the first two but overall fine. The latest one 115 properties mix of houses and flats there are problems with. No idea why though. There's affordable housing in all of them. Some social housing in the third. Landlords tend to buy up adjoining properties on new builds. So it could be down to bad landlords/agents.

Our council are renting directly from landlords these days that's something new to us. The landlords know they'll get the rent come what may.

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/12/2022 17:55

Thesearmsofmine · 31/12/2022 17:53

Don’t worry Op, those of us who are on low incomes can’t afford affordable housing either.

Same here, been in my HA rented house for 20 yrs.

Suedomin · 31/12/2022 17:55

That's just a change of branding for the PC era, no?
No social housing is not the same as affordable housing

ILoveeCakes · 31/12/2022 17:55

2reefsin30knots · 31/12/2022 17:52

The affordable houses will probably have teachers and junior doctors in them.

The constant moaning coming out of the first house and the teams of clappers outside the second one would drive me potty

Haveagentlechristmas · 31/12/2022 17:55

I’m thinking affordable housing (it’s definitely this, and not social housing) is where the local council puts problem families? But this might not be correct?

You wanker. It just means starter homes. What planet are you on?

Original poster
SpainToday · 31/12/2022 17:55

Thank you to the the posters who have explained the concept to me. We are not looking to buy a large property, we are not particularly high earners and certainly are not snobs. We just want a quiet life.

OP posts:
HarrietSchulenberg · 31/12/2022 17:55

Of course, your neighbours in the expensive housing could always be buy-to-let landlords who aren't fussy about the tenants they put in. Your "affordable" neighbours could well be your best neighbours.
Always a risk if you're buying a new build on an estate.

Outtasteamandluck · 31/12/2022 17:56

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 17:55

Thank you to the the posters who have explained the concept to me. We are not looking to buy a large property, we are not particularly high earners and certainly are not snobs. We just want a quiet life.

Maybe don't post about it on a public forum then ???

ILoveeCakes · 31/12/2022 17:56

ExtraOnions · 31/12/2022 17:54

I would 100x be happier living next to people in Affordable Housing, than some stuck up twat with an over-inflated sense of self-importance.

It’s a new build, it’s not Kensington Palace

That's one of the biggest council houses in the country ;)

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/12/2022 17:56

I’m thinking affordable housing (it’s definitely this, and not social housing) is where the local council puts problem families? But this might not be correct?

It depends who owns and runs it, OP. In theory affordable housing is usually privately operated, but it gets complicated when councils create "partnerships" to buttress their own lack of resouces and then start pulling the strings

That doesn't necessarily mean you'd get "problem families" of course, and anyway you get them everywhere, but at the same time there's no point ignoring that it often becomes the councils' role to house them, with all this implies

I guess what you really need is proper research and I wish you luck with it

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/12/2022 17:57

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 17:55

Thank you to the the posters who have explained the concept to me. We are not looking to buy a large property, we are not particularly high earners and certainly are not snobs. We just want a quiet life.

Move to the middle of nowhere, it will be quiet there.

AreOttersJustWetCats · 31/12/2022 17:57

SpainToday · 31/12/2022 17:48

CrapBucket · Today 17:41
I bought a new build and they made a big deal of pointing out where all the affordable and social housing was on the plan... I couldn't care less. Most of the people round here are lovely, the only ones who aren't, live in the big posh house.

I had exactly the same comments from our sales negotiator, the affordable housing was a separate colour on the site plan. So if even the builder is warning people then there must be a reason? We are a very average household, and can’t afford to get this wrong.

They're pointing it out to people because they know a percentage of buyers are idiotic snobs (like you, tbh!) who will care about it. And they can probably therefore get away with charging a premium for the plots furthest from the affordable housing.

LIZS · 31/12/2022 17:57

"Affordable" housing is typically owned at a discount(15%) or shared ownership, not social housing. Most new developments have a requirement as part of pp. However you may also have privately owned neighbouring properties, leased out to council for their tenants and be unaware when reserving.

Thedaysthatremain · 31/12/2022 17:58

Jarvis Cocker wants a word

TheHateIsNotGood · 31/12/2022 17:58

No OP - "affordable housing" is very different to "social housing" - most 'affordable housing' is usually offered on an overpriced shared ownership basis (via a Local Housing Trust/Association/Council) or for rent at 80% of the highest similar rents. It is the absolute minimum that developers can get away with to secure Planning Permission.

Very rarely is it 'social housing' with truly affordable rents. But your suggestion/thinking that social tenants and/or shared ownership buyers are likely to be a 'neighbourhood problem' is quite ignorant and even rather offensive.

chipsandpeas · 31/12/2022 17:58

your a snob

ThinWomansBrain · 31/12/2022 17:59

I think you should buy yourself a nice castle with a moat and drawbridge.
Somewhere very rural and isolated.

Think how many people you'll be protecting from your nasty, snobbish attitude.

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