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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:
AzerJoon · 31/12/2022 19:02

I live in affordable housing plot.
It's funny really because all our flats are well maintained and perfect outside.

The ownership lot there block well... they overfill their bins and don't wash their windows. Very scruffy. It's actually an eyesore.

Make that what you will Smile

But oh yeah.. that's a sign of the WC ain't it! Over compensating with our homes :)

whynotwhatknot · 31/12/2022 19:02

careful you might catch a disease off them

ffs

StridTheKiller · 31/12/2022 19:03

Steer clear of anything social housing related. It's bound to be a nightmare.

stepstepstep · 31/12/2022 19:03

I live in affordable housing (shared ownership). The criteria in my area is earning <£80k and having a local connection to the area. I can imagine you wouldn’t want to live near someone who earns <£80k…🙄

Badlytrainedspaniel · 31/12/2022 19:03

Badlytrainedspaniel · 31/12/2022 18:50

I wouldn’t buy there. We live on a big new development - a new town actually- and I never thought twice about the social housing plots (and I mean social not part buy affordable) and it wouldn’t have put me off at all. As it happens our house is not in one of those areas.

But, I can tell you where exactly one of the main social housing areas is now, because whenever there is trouble in one of the parks/just out and about - it is ALWAYS one of the kids/teenagers from those houses and their payments don’t seem to give a shit. They are also the ones out screaming at their kids in the street (when the kids disobey them). I think the developers should space these properties out, not put them all together so that others are aware of where they are.

In the part of the country we live in though, social housing is incredibly hard to get and is only given to families who are classed homeless and are in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation for months before they get a house - so it is families who don’t work (as the ones who do will rent privately before getting to stage of presenting to council as homeless ) and they are often single parents with multiple children, because they are prioritised - and for whatever reason, the ones in my area do seem to have social problems.

I have spent time in another area of the country where there is lots of social housing available and there are lots of people living in them who work and don’t have issues.

@Lara9891 - I have reshared my earlier post for you.. in my area you, and your friends, wouldn’t be in social housing (unless you got the house many years ago and stayed put). We don’t where the OP lives.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 31/12/2022 19:04

In my town they built a lovely new small mixed estate of affordable and social housing, really nice contemporary designs, looked great until people actually moved in and it wasn’t long before the sofas appeared in the front gardens and front gardens were also used as rubbish dumps by a few households, I felt very sorry for the decent tenants who looked after their homes having to put up with literally other peoples crap.

Nakedornotnaked · 31/12/2022 19:04

How unfathomably snobbish.

I'd suggest you don't buy on that estate. You already have preconceived opinions of those less wealthy than you and you'll spoil the community spirit and neighbourly relationships with your pretentious 'we are considerably richer than yow' attitude, looking down on them all from your slightly bigger house that contains an en suite, and therefore elevating you to a level of superiority these lower beings could never match.

It would be absolutely GHASTLY for you daaahling!

tunthebloodyalarmoff · 31/12/2022 19:04

serenghetti2011 · 31/12/2022 17:43

I’m a nurse, in temporary accommodation with my kids, perfectly quiet and hard working that might get such a home sorry you don’t want to live near us but I wouldn’t want to live close to you either shitty attitude

This. I would not want to live near you OP you are disgustingly judgmental shame on you

NoodleC · 31/12/2022 19:04

I would check with the builder but often affordable is for buyers who work for NHS or Teachers and they get a discounted price.

magicthree · 31/12/2022 19:05

I think the people in the affordable housing should be more concerned about living opposite you!

Lordhelpme · 31/12/2022 19:05

OP I understand your worries.
Our development consists of 4 shared ownership houses, (we are in one shared ownership), your standard buy out right houses and then there are 2 roads of council houses.
Both rows of council houses treat the area like sht every single one of them, shit outside etc. I'm no means stuck up and I have been brought up in a council home myself but unfortunately you do get some people with no respect council house or not really but we have had issues in our area. Luckily the row of houses are away from the rest. Could you ask any further questions to whether or not the houses have been taken yet? Try get an idea on families? We were told about our neighbours before buying x

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 31/12/2022 19:06

I live in affordable housing on a new build estate and you wouldn’t be able to tell which ones were affordable housing and which ones are privately rented / owned. I don’t understand why there is such stigma attached to affordable housing - it’s not like on Shameless!

Taillighttoobright · 31/12/2022 19:07

Lara9891 · 31/12/2022 18:59

Good to know that despite the fact I and many of my friends are well educated with very good jobs that serve our communities (nurses, social care, teachers) and are very pleasant people that because we can only afford affordable housing we’re obviously the scum of the actual earth.

Show quote history

Obviously you’re not the scum of the earth. But some people are. In my village, they live in the affordable housing. And they really are scum.
It’s not fair that all the residents from that area have to bear the same reputation, though - many are lovely, and I feel awful for them.

midsomermurderess · 31/12/2022 19:09

Oh no! Social housing!!!

OldTinHat · 31/12/2022 19:10

Absolutely do not buy that house. Your neighbours will loathe you for being arrogant and stuck up.

Buy on an estate and be part of a community. Don't want to be part of a community? Then buy somewhere in a field where you have to worry about no one but yourselves.

Usernumber463626363 · 31/12/2022 19:11

Heard it all now. Op, in the nicest way possible get a grip.

most, if not all new build develops will have open market housing, affordable and also some housing association properties. Some will be bought to rent out.

go and find a house in the middle of nowhere if you don't want any neighbours.

nightmare neighbours can come in all sorts of housing situations and areas. It's wrong to say families in affordable housing are likely to be a bother, not true at all. You could live in a very affluent area and get trouble with your neighbours.

affordable homes are sometimes the only way people can get in the housing ladder, especially if you live in Cornwall and other popular areas around the country like me - even 'affordable housing' is too much of a stretch for a lot of us.

C8H10N4O2 · 31/12/2022 19:12

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.

When in a hole, its a good idea to stop digging, even if its to bury that aspidistra.

Taillighttoobright · 31/12/2022 19:12

magicthree · 31/12/2022 19:05

I think the people in the affordable housing should be more concerned about living opposite you!

Why would they be concerned about living next to people who care about their community and hope to live peaceful lives?

imalreadygone · 31/12/2022 19:12

Naff off

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 31/12/2022 19:13

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.

I'm wondering what you think you'll catch by living in among the poor people? Most arseholes I've known have been well enough off. So not sure what you think it actually means?! No one is asking you to buy something in a slum area full of druggies etc. The poor people won't be able to afford the drugs if they have a mortgage. The arseholes aren't obliged to let you know in a similar manner. Hmm

Omgthishurts · 31/12/2022 19:13

I lived opposite affordable housing once OP. I came out in a rash and started wearing my dressing gown to Lidl. Don't risk it.

WetLettuce2 · 31/12/2022 19:14

Disgusting thread.

Disgusting question.

clairelouwho · 31/12/2022 19:15

I am going to go off on a rant here because OP's post is directed at people like me and to be honest, it annoys me that people think like this.

All new build developments have to provide a certain amount of affordable housing. This is not the same thing as social housing or council houses. They are schemes, not dissimilar to the "Help to Buy" schemes of a couple of years ago. I happen to have bought a house under the "affordable housing" scheme on a new build estate.

My house is exactly the same as any other house on the estate. Only difference is that under the scheme I was able to qualify for a reduced price from its open market value. I couldn't afford to buy without it as I was a single buyer-and this scheme enabled me to get on the property ladder. I still had to provide a substantial deposit, go through all the financial checks and balances and prove I can pay the mortgage and then some.

They are schemes to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder and only apply to those who fall into very specific categories i.e. a) wouldn't be able to afford it at open market value even with the assistance of the Help to Buy scheme b) live or are an essential worker in that specific area etc and be able to prove you have sufficient ties/reasons to need to live in that area.

There is no difference from a person buying a house on the scheme that I did and a person getting support to buy a house through the Help to Buy scheme and yet only only of those would be classed as unsuitable by the likes of you to live opposite of. If you discovered your new neighbour had utilised Help to Buy to purchase their home, it's doubtful you'd cast the same aspersions about them.

I've lived here nearly 3 years and the only neighbours I've ever had issues with were those not in the affordable housing, having loud parties etc. Never any issues from those in the affordable housing.

I suppose people like OP think that only the well-off or those with dual-income households who can afford the prices should be able to buy a house and everyone else is just a lowly criminal rather than a normal person who just wants to get on the ladder and have a nice home for their families.

Please OP don't move in opposite-no one needs your or your DH's snobbery living near them.

dolor · 31/12/2022 19:15

LOL so you don't want to live near poorer people, is that it? 🙄

APurpleSquirrel · 31/12/2022 19:15

I live in a newish estate (10yo) - it has mostly owner-occupied properties, with a few affordable houses & a block of HA flats. We've been here since it was built. In that time the only times the police have been called out has been to the HA flats - including a brief manhunt - but that's only happened a few times.
Tbh the most problems arise from the owner-occupied properties, who all have 2-car drives/spaces & yet many seem to find parking on their actual parking... problematic. So instead of parking on their drive/space, they park in front of their house/opposite someone else's drive/or have more vehicles than they have spaces for.
So OP, tbh I'd not worry about the affordable housing, & look much more closely at the parking situation for the whole estate.