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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about buying a semi attached to a council owned house?

338 replies

mumyes · 30/08/2023 14:48

I'm about to spend nearly £500k on a semi that is attached to a 4-bed house owned by a housing-association...the one I'm buying used to be a council house.

I'm nervous. The little estate it's on is still partly (maybe 50/50) 'council' owned.

Should I be worried?

The house I'm buying is lovely, and well kept. Next door less so...but not as bad as some.

OP posts:
Diffrent · 30/08/2023 16:12

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2023 16:11

All of this self righteous indignation is laughable. The op is making a half million £ investment. She is sensible to have concerns about buying property that ajoins any other property. I wouldn't buy a semi-detached home full stop, so I appreciate her hesitation.

Again, that's not the concern, is it?

MrsKarlUrban · 30/08/2023 16:12

Anybody in any class can make decent or awful neighbours. I think buying any house is a gamble and no matter the area I would be driving round at different points to check out the noise level etc

Muddyfeetgood · 30/08/2023 16:12

Thehonestybox · 30/08/2023 15:21

Sure. Someone who can afford a £500k house has almost certainly grown up middle class (unless lottery winner, or just got very lucky).

Someone in a 4 bed council house is very likely from a very poor background and possibly doesn't work (because council housing lists are so competitive now, you usually have to prove you'd be homeless otherwise and can't afford private rent).

They're just potentially two totally different households and no one likes the idea of their rich new neighbour moving in and then starting to complain about parties, noise, fence not being repaired, etc.

I think if the OP is a working class person "made good" they'll more likely fit in, otherwise I'd pass personally

Show quote history

This is not judgemental though, it’s fact.

The owner occupiers of a £500k house are more likely to be a professional couple than those in council housing. Professional couples are more likely to lead a quiet life due to the need to get up early in the morning to go to work. They are more likely to work hard and take pride in / appreciate what they have and so are less likely to fly tip in their own back garden. They are less likely to have mental health problems and act erratically.

Note ‘more likely’. Not ‘all council tenants are awful and all owners are lovely’, just more likely and less likely.

tiredofthenoise · 30/08/2023 16:12

If you're 'about to' purchase the house, presumably you've put some thought into it, taken in the vibe of the area, etc. and haven't been scared off by what you've seen and heard.

Honestly, it wouldn't be my first choice, but you can have good or bad luck with neighbours regardless of where you buy.

DivingForLove · 30/08/2023 16:13

@Thehonestybox you’re kidding right??? As a working class girl “made good” I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at your judgy shite 🙄🤬

Tortiemiaw · 30/08/2023 16:14

Our ex council house is currently valued at £525000. So much for people shuddering at the thought of buying one

BMW6 · 30/08/2023 16:14

OP I was born in a council house, lived in council houses on council estates till I was 25.

I wouldn't move next to one now. Sure you take a chance wherever you live, but the chance that you get a problem neighbour are higher if the house is council owned.

There have always been anti social families, there always will be - but the prevalence of drug abuse nowadays has exacerbated the problems.

Beezknees · 30/08/2023 16:16

I live in a block of housing association flats on a larger court with more flats plus houses. We're just normal people. The only people in my block who don't work are one elderly retired man and a man with disabilities.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2023 16:16

Diffrent · 30/08/2023 16:12

Again, that's not the concern, is it?

Show quote history

Why would you not be at all concerned about neighbours who do not have a vested interest in the property they live in? You'd be foolish not to when making sure a important investment.

Kingprawndawn · 30/08/2023 16:17

I'd be careful of these mixed estates OP( bought housing mixed with social housing) as you don't know who you are living beside and they may have different parenting values to you.We lived in a housing association semi for a couple of years beside some privately bought homes/HSA homes. There was some bother with children misbehaving and parents not doing anything about it. I decided to move as some of our garden tools got stolen from our shed and our plants pulled up and wrecked our flower beds (caught by security cam) by some young children. Sadly parents refused to take it seriously and do anything about it , so police had to be called to warn the children. Not only that ,our shed had some dangerous substances in like weedkillers . Anyway , the privately owned home parents did bugger all and laughed in ours and the coppers' faces. I moved as, couldn't deal with living amongst people with values like that. Appalling.

Illbebythesea · 30/08/2023 16:17

I think there is such a mixed bag that you are taking no more risk than having neighbours who also owned.

I am in a 3 bed Council house with 3 kids, both my neighbours are Council as well & they’re genuinely lovely, friendly people. Have a chat, but not invasive or too much. Just totally normal people, all work.

I’d say we are the loudest with the youngest kids, but I always pop round to let them know if we’re hosting a kids birthday party etc. If I bump into them outside they warn me about bad weather (as in storms/strong winds), compliment my new door colour, we talk about plants & the gardening. We’re normal!!

All the houses across the road are privately owned and some of those are equally lovely, but one you can definitely tell they’re judging the council neighbours across the street 🤣

Anyway… longing this out but what I’m saying is they could be lovely and they could be a nightmare but so could people who own. It wouldn’t put me off, but I would like to meet them briefly before if I could! You can usually gauge people on the first meeting.

Moveoverdarlin · 30/08/2023 16:18

Wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. Sorry.

outsurance · 30/08/2023 16:18

Thehonestybox · 30/08/2023 15:42

I grew up in council too. It was horrible and I'm just being honest. I saw some really grim and depressing, occasionally frightening stuff go down on my street growing up (including from the behavior of my own family who yep were jobless, alcoholics and just all round horrible).

There are of course people on estates like me who just want a peaceful, normal life but basing solely on my experience, I would say 'nope, I wouldn't spend £500k on that'.

I'd literally die of happiness of I knew one day I could afford a £500k mortgage. I've never even met anyone who was that rich. I would absolutely not waste all that on buying somewhere right back where I started!

Show quote history

I grew up in a council house. I lived in one too post domestic abuse. Brought my kids up there.

I now own a 3 bed detached outright.

Am I a different culture now?

EhrlicheFrau · 30/08/2023 16:18

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2023 16:11

All of this self righteous indignation is laughable. The op is making a half million £ investment. She is sensible to have concerns about buying property that ajoins any other property. I wouldn't buy a semi-detached home full stop, so I appreciate her hesitation.

She is correct to have concerns about any house move/new area.
People are entitled to share their valid personal experiences about living in a council/ex-council property and/or having council tenants as neighbours.
People are entitled to suggest potential issues, such as noise from a semi-detached property as opposed to a detached one, repair issues etc.
People are not entitled to be judgemental by making sweeping statements about 'council tenants' or 'council areas' in general, especially when they have no personal experience.
OP I wish you well.

Diffrent · 30/08/2023 16:20

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2023 16:16

Why would you not be at all concerned about neighbours who do not have a vested interest in the property they live in? You'd be foolish not to when making sure a important investment.

Show quote history

Because I don't think like you do. I don't believe that the reason people behave badly is because they don't own their property. I was a first time buyer last year after 20+ years of renting. I've never treated any of my homes or neighbours badly. I wouldn't expect other people to, either.

EhrlicheFrau · 30/08/2023 16:20

Muddyfeetgood · 30/08/2023 16:12

This is not judgemental though, it’s fact.

The owner occupiers of a £500k house are more likely to be a professional couple than those in council housing. Professional couples are more likely to lead a quiet life due to the need to get up early in the morning to go to work. They are more likely to work hard and take pride in / appreciate what they have and so are less likely to fly tip in their own back garden. They are less likely to have mental health problems and act erratically.

Note ‘more likely’. Not ‘all council tenants are awful and all owners are lovely’, just more likely and less likely.

Show quote history

This is judgemental, and possibly also not factual. Carry on though.

Getupat8amnow · 30/08/2023 16:20

Having lived next door to a four bedroom housing association house where a family with five children (preteens and early teens) moved in I would not touch it with a barge pole. The noise was horrendous as was the continuous garden bonfires, music in the garden and dog mess left in the garden. We moved as soon as we could. The housing association were useless, the noise they generated was far beyond normal daily living noise.

Mikimoto · 30/08/2023 16:21

I think you need to watch an episode of "Witness Number Three" and then decide if you'd like to move in!!

EhrlicheFrau · 30/08/2023 16:22

Kingprawndawn · 30/08/2023 16:17

I'd be careful of these mixed estates OP( bought housing mixed with social housing) as you don't know who you are living beside and they may have different parenting values to you.We lived in a housing association semi for a couple of years beside some privately bought homes/HSA homes. There was some bother with children misbehaving and parents not doing anything about it. I decided to move as some of our garden tools got stolen from our shed and our plants pulled up and wrecked our flower beds (caught by security cam) by some young children. Sadly parents refused to take it seriously and do anything about it , so police had to be called to warn the children. Not only that ,our shed had some dangerous substances in like weedkillers . Anyway , the privately owned home parents did bugger all and laughed in ours and the coppers' faces. I moved as, couldn't deal with living amongst people with values like that. Appalling.

You meet people 'with different parenting values to you' wherever you live though. In our area I'd say there is not really a clear line you could draw which would link property value or parental income with how well behaved/well nurtured the children are!

EhrlicheFrau · 30/08/2023 16:24

Aquamarine1029 · 30/08/2023 16:16

Why would you not be at all concerned about neighbours who do not have a vested interest in the property they live in? You'd be foolish not to when making sure a important investment.

Show quote history

Let me get this right, you are concluding that those in rented accommodation don't care about their property/garden simply because it's rented? 😳

Beezknees · 30/08/2023 16:25

Mikimoto · 30/08/2023 16:21

I think you need to watch an episode of "Witness Number Three" and then decide if you'd like to move in!!

Yes, that's a daily occurrence in my building. 🤨

Spambod · 30/08/2023 16:25

I personally wouldn’t do it op. You have a much higher chance of a family with issues. This is just a fact.

nwatty · 30/08/2023 16:25

only major concern i would have would be over common repairs. In my area the council charge an insane amount for common repairs and can push this through in blocks where they are the majority owner. I would speak to the HA to see if they have any planned major roof or roughcasting repairs scheduled.

EhrlicheFrau · 30/08/2023 16:26

Spambod · 30/08/2023 16:25

I personally wouldn’t do it op. You have a much higher chance of a family with issues. This is just a fact.

I am not sure this IS a fact tbh, or maybe we define 'issues' differently.

icemonkey24 · 30/08/2023 16:26

Definitely pull out now. Unless you want your home smelling like Sports Direct and can tolerate the smell of lidl food wafting through your plantation shutters, I'd definitely stay far away...