To be concerned about living near social housing?

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Hi,

So before anyone starts with the popcorn emojis or snobbery accusations, I'm well aware I'm going to offend some people by asking this question and whereas I'm not happy about that, I could really do with some advice and experiences, so I've decided to ask a controversial question.

I should also make it clear that I'm fully aware that the majority of people living in SH are not anti social arseholes - I have friends in SH. I have also had issues with neighbours who own their house or rent privately. I know SH doesn't automatically equate to issues.

However, statistically speaking, there are more issues with anti social behaviour in SH areas, disproportionately so, so am I really being unreasonable for being concerned about moving to a road which has SH?

Thanks.

There is a retired couple in social housing on our street - they cause no trouble at all as they’re in their second home in Cyprus all winter.

I've been there, done that, got the t shirt. Never again.
As a PP said, even if you have no issues it will likely affect resale. Many people will be put off.

Theirs four roads in my SH area more houses are now bought than beening SH how do you know its not the same their?

The challenge with council tenants is the landlord (the council...) have no incentive to move on the rarer anti social tenants that do arise, unless there are literally legal/criminal issues. They would still have to house the tenants elsewhere or face dealing with yet another homeless family. This means bad behaviour gets left to persist for long periods.

A private landlord can (and will) simply wash their hands of a difficult tenant and never have to deal with them again. There's enough demand for rental property than in many areas no private landlord will tolerate anything except above average income professionals with excellent references etc. Never mind barking dogs and unruly kids, many private landlords don't allow pets at all and carefully avoid renting to tenants with children!

OP you can't make blanket assumptions because it varies hugely, plenty of social housing is occupied by perfectly Check behaved working families. Look at the statistics for the specific area, walk around it in the evening, compare the housing prices. If its noticeably cheaper, its probably that the area is avoided by many.

In our road there is a mix of privately owned, housing association and private renters. The only people who cause anti social behaviour are the private renters. The HA families are lovely.

Theirs four roads in my SH area more houses are now bought than beening SH how do you know its not the same their?

When its social housing they always have the same doors.

The potential problem is not the working classes but the substantial minority who chose to manipulate the benefits and housing needs systems. In other words, the only people getting housed in social housing currently. Despite what the virtue signallers write with their silly emojis, you are far more likely to experience anti social behaviour with this type of tenant. Often because they have no investment in their community. Half the time they can't even manage to lob their rubbish in the communal bins. The Housing Act needs drastic reform so we can revert to the mixed communities we used to have

I'd avoid it if you have other alternatives purely because your house will go up in value less quickly because of the SH.

I live in social housing and you’re not being unreasonable, since living here there’s been stabbings outside my front door (yes plural and yes literally outside my front door), arguing, drunken fights, people being loud until the early hours of the morning, if not all night, music blaring etc etc everything I’m sure you’re worried about happens here, it’s hell, I dread the summer and good weather, I hate it with a passion so if anyone who things yabu wants to swap, please please let me know! I would give anything to move.. so from personal experience, yanbu!

I live on a Council estate and wouldn’t never do it again.
Unfortunately in my area my neighbours just don’t care about upkeep of the properties or gardens.

I grew up in social housing.
I would not live near social housing unless I had no choice.
Most families were lovely. The few spoilt it for absolutely everyone.

Oh for gods sake

We bought an ex council house. It’s probably about 50/50 owned vs council tenants on our street. Prior to this house we lived on a private estate in a ‘posh’ area, in another village. It wasn’t for us. People walked past without speaking , there was an air of snobbery that I just couldn’t get away with. Children didn’t play out. We put that house up for sale after only being there three years. Our ex council house is bigger and better than the private one was. The people are much more friendly here (without being overbearing). Children have benefitted from living in a village where playing out is the norm and there’s a real sense of community here. There is a new estate being built in our village and part of me is slightly tempted to go and enquire but I also hate the thought of leaving where we are. So no I wouldn’t let social housing put me off purchasing anywhere but I do think it’s important to know what an area is like before making any decisions. You’ll get good and bad on both social housing and private estates. Finding a house and area where you and your family are happy can be a little bit of trial and error.

Those who are determined to label you as unreasonable really don't have a clue. I've worked with families who are living in social housing whose lives are blighted by their neighbours. No, it's not all families at all but it only takes one bad family to ruin it for a street. Yes, it does happen in privately owned properties but it happens a lot less. In addition to asb there were constant problems with waste being left out causing rat infestations. Again not all families. Bear in mind these complaints were from the SH tenants who had to put up with it. They all said they wished they could move and felt trapped. So asking doesn't make you a bad person. Unless you have first hand experience of managing housing like this you should hold back from judging the OP because trust me, it can be hell.

Perfect !! 😄

Not unreasonable. Our social-housing neighbours get nervous every time a flat changes hands. There's always a risk that a bunch of arseholes will move in. And my (non-quantitative) perception of this is that there's a very much higher chance of this in social housing.

I know what you mean and of course you're fine to worry about it. I have had arsehole neighbours in both owned and SH.

In your position I would be canvassing your prospective new road and the one behind your garden on these hot sunny days at various points in the week/evening to scout it out.

I own but live opposite two social housing houses; two different tennants in each 50/50 was tormented by loud music till 4/5 in the morning - one in each house at different points in time. Now we have quiet families in them. It was awful and if I had known what I was to be in store for, I would never have bought here! I should have driven by at 3am on a weeknight!

It really, really would put us off. From experience, it would, on paper, probably be a dealbreaker for us.

What’s the difference between those that rent from Housing Associations/council and those with mortgages? What’s the difference in the ‘people’? Why are those in social housing assumed to be alcoholic, drug-addled, anti social trouble makers? Why? I think it’s a cliche.

But why? What makes you think that?

Well we lived next to social housing for 5 years, absolutely no problems at all.
Then the housing association changed and the tenants changed.. when one had a petrol bomb put through his letterbox we moved. Sometimes drive back round there and it's an absolute mess everywhere.
So it's hit and miss but I would avoid from our personal experience

You're right, people who live in social housing probably wouldn't want your sort living near them.

Only listen to the views of people who have bought houses near Social Housing, there may be positive or negative experiences.
We did it and it was bloody awful, we moved asap and luckily were able to px with a Developer.
Ignore any people with no direct experience who just think you are a snob

No. I don't.

Check out the place first? Is there a local coffee shop to sit and scout? If your buying a property I think neighbour disputes has to be legally disclosed. My parents live in a super pricey area... but oh lord their neighbour is a nut job! He's called police on everyone, even on their own police officers. He screams accusing people of being peodophiles when he walks past and got kicked out of a coffee shop going for a child! Police say they can't touch him 😬 honestly the worse ones are not always SH it's who thinks they are above the law!