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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:
Hibiscrubbed · 30/08/2023 17:37

I wouldn’t buy it.

FcukTheDay · 30/08/2023 17:37

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

Great, thanks for explaining!

I think I may explain a little if you don't mind? All of what you have said is utter nonsense, putting it politely.

I live in a HA property, was from a middle class background, parents/siblings all professionals. Circumstances saw me take a different route.

Your view is completely wrong. I mean, yeah, I am sure my homeowner neighbours would like me to walk over the other side of the street and they should never look me directly in the eyes, it may be catching!!

They do not do this as most people aren't this way inclined in thinking, I work in the local school and help teach their children. Not everyone who can't afford to buy a house is the scum of the earth.

Pista41 · 30/08/2023 17:39

@Diffrent i’ve explained this in earlier posts but HAs don’t do the maintenance they are supposed to on properties which can cause major problems if you’re physically joined to one. You are sharing a building basically, so who the other owner of that building is matters. I’ve been in this situation, and it caused major and costly damage and the HA were absolutely horrific. The tenants/occupants weren’t the issue, it was the HA’s refusal to take any responsibility for the property they owned that was. The OP hasn’t said anywhere she is worried about the occupants and it seems a lot of people are projecting that/assuming the worst intentions. No wonder she hasn’t been back!

SunWorshipping · 30/08/2023 17:41

I wouldn't buy next to a HA house even if it was cheap. If I had 500k to spend there's not a chance in hell. For 500k you'd get a 4 bed detached where we live, nice area, near a nice school. Couldn't imagine 500k only getting me a semi next door to a housing associate property, yikes depressing.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 30/08/2023 17:45

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

My Dad and his siblings grew up in a civil house. They are loud, brash and rough around the edges. They are also lovely.

They all own houses worth 500k+. One of them owns 2.

Pista41 · 30/08/2023 17:46

Ps @Diffrent i realise any owner might be bad on maintenance, but that’s a one in whatever chance. With an HA you know they will be (more than council, HAs are notorious). I had to get Age Concern etc involved as well as the courts as the conditions they were leaving our (elderly, lovely) neighbours in were horrific, as well as causing very costly damage to our home.

Diffrent · 30/08/2023 17:47

Pista41 · 30/08/2023 17:39

@Diffrent i’ve explained this in earlier posts but HAs don’t do the maintenance they are supposed to on properties which can cause major problems if you’re physically joined to one. You are sharing a building basically, so who the other owner of that building is matters. I’ve been in this situation, and it caused major and costly damage and the HA were absolutely horrific. The tenants/occupants weren’t the issue, it was the HA’s refusal to take any responsibility for the property they owned that was. The OP hasn’t said anywhere she is worried about the occupants and it seems a lot of people are projecting that/assuming the worst intentions. No wonder she hasn’t been back!

That's a shame that was your experience. It's not universal though, as other PP have said.

There's barely a week goes by on MN without a thread about how worried someone is about being near council housing.

I'm not surprised OP hasn't been back yet, but for different reasons.

Daphnis156 · 30/08/2023 17:49

Don't buy it and just buy in a non council/HA street.
It's not worth the money in the end, and you would never know who would be moving in- a lovely family, or a horde of criminals, or drug users.
there could be constant arguments about vehicles, and parking, and noise, constant comings and goings.

Yes you can get this in a totally private street, but much less often.

Fallingthroughclouds · 30/08/2023 17:51

Just don't forget wealthy people can be total arseholes too.

user1471538283 · 30/08/2023 17:53

It's not about who owns the home but what the people are like. I lived in social housing for a decade and my neighbors were respectful and quiet.

My least favourite house that I bought next to other bought homes was so bad for noise and anti social behaviour I left after 17 months.

My next move was to an apartment where everyone rented and despite being surrounded by more people it was much less noisy.

Due to my experience I will never share walls again.

If you want the house I would advise going around at different times and speaking to the other neighbors.

spirit20 · 30/08/2023 17:54

I had this issue when looking to buy an ex-council maisonette as well. I ended up buying it, as I got a 2-bed for a price in an area that I'd otherwise have probably only been able to afford a 1 bed.

I was a bit worried, but it's been absolutely fine. I think however what helps is that the council flats are mainly 1-2 beds, meaning it's not large families but generally elderly people or couples with 1 child. I don't know if that would be the same with a 4 bed property.

What really helped me was looking around the area and making a judgement call based on my gut feeling. Keep in mind that nightmare neighbours can live everywhere, and can move in, also as private tenants or as owners, even to the most desirable of neighbourhoods, so there's no guarantee wherever you buy.

vitahelp · 30/08/2023 17:54

Yeah I understand your worry. And they may feel the same but in reverse. We will have a multi-millionaire neighbour soon and I worry about the difference (e.g they may expect better maintenance in shared areas and not realise we don’t have unlimited money for upkeep etc).

mimiku · 30/08/2023 17:56

Diffrent · 30/08/2023 15:21

You should be TERRIFIED. You should be CRYING, SHAKING, THROWING UP. Make some preemptive calls to 101 to log your concerns just in case.

😂😂😂😂 this one made me smile, thank you!!

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 30/08/2023 17:58

Seashor · 30/08/2023 15:02

I wouldn’t. Many would, but I wouldn’t. I’d go for a three bedroom detached over a four bedroom semi. I don’t want anyones noise and a four bedroom house is going to bring a lot of it.

Agree with this.

I'd reconsider this purchase.

Busornobus67 · 30/08/2023 17:58

Ive just looked up my area. Our road only 1 council owned
The next road maybe 20.
We have ex council. Attached to non council. But behind is council and they did smoke a lot of pot.

However the new estate of 400k -700k houses ironically has the most. Which surprised me. Probably the attached houses

TenderDandelions · 30/08/2023 18:02

I wouldn't buy it and I grew up in social housing! My main concern would be the potential for noise.

As PP have said, to be eligible for a 4 bed social housing property, it will be a family of quite a few children (at least 3, but more likely 4 or 5).

Children can be noisy at any age and stay at home for longer nowadays, so the screaming baby phase is eventually replaced by teenagers with their cars/mates.

That said, if it's an older ex-social housing property, it might actually have very good sound insulation. I used to live in a 1950s ex-council house and my neighbours apologised one day for their children, but I could honestly say I'd never heard them. The walls were super thick!

If OP's concern is from a snobbery perspective, however, YABU AND you probably shouldn't buy the property!

oakleaffy · 30/08/2023 18:03

Re nightmare neighbours being in wealthy areas- This is true.

A beautiful chocolate box thatched cottage with a garden sweeping down to a river has really nasty neighbours- The couple that lived there were anti hunt- and were relentlessly bullied.
Dead foxes thrown into their garden,
Horses ridden along the bank trampling the ducks nest
It was really nasty.
The hunt son ( very wealthy family) was done for wife beating and class A drug use (in public domain)
so definitely thugs and oafs can be of all classes.

Minime88888888 · 30/08/2023 18:05

If in doubt, don't.

TenderDandelions · 30/08/2023 18:07

vitahelp · 30/08/2023 17:54

Yeah I understand your worry. And they may feel the same but in reverse. We will have a multi-millionaire neighbour soon and I worry about the difference (e.g they may expect better maintenance in shared areas and not realise we don’t have unlimited money for upkeep etc).

We have some issues with a neighbour like this. They own the "big" house in the road (the one that started the same size as all the others but has had the most extensions done), and because they overspent £850k on their house when all the others in the road "only" sell for £650k, they seem to think they're better than everyone. Whereas they're noisy, disrespectful and have turned what was a beautiful house in to a tip on the outside with unkempt gardens and a PITA little shitty dog that they have no control over, who barks night and day and shits and pisses on other people's front lawns when they take it out for a walk.

It's fair to say that money definitely doesn't buy class!

TheSkull · 30/08/2023 18:08

Mammyloveswine · 30/08/2023 17:10

Ffs what are you worried about?! Would you be bothered if it was someone privately renting?!

So fucking sick of "council" housing being seen as a bad thing! It's a good thing and if it wasn't for the bloody tories selling off all the council houses then most people could afford to rent these days instead of private landlords ruining the property market!

Precisely. Ridiculous snobbery. Why start a thread about it if not to try to look superior (which you don’t. You just look uneducated)

IDoughnutKnow · 30/08/2023 18:09

I wouldn't buy it.

Blinky21 · 30/08/2023 18:12

I wouldn't, I currently live in a semi and the house next door is a rental (not HA) but it's not maintained by the landlord well so it looks really scruffy to the point it will impact the sale price of mine. I would never buy a house which was attached to an unkempt house if I could avoid it. I have also live next to HA properties and I'm sorry to say my experience was horrible. I've lived in loads of properties across the UK and it was the worst. Maybe coincidence, but it put me off for life

I8toys · 30/08/2023 18:12

I wouldn't and I come from a council estate in Stoke. I would go for a smaller detached and never a semi in any location or attached to anyone whether social housing or private.

Jevwaypock · 30/08/2023 18:14

Daphnis156 · 30/08/2023 17:49

Don't buy it and just buy in a non council/HA street.
It's not worth the money in the end, and you would never know who would be moving in- a lovely family, or a horde of criminals, or drug users.
there could be constant arguments about vehicles, and parking, and noise, constant comings and goings.

Yes you can get this in a totally private street, but much less often.

Criminals and drug users also live in ‘nice’ area’s you know. They are not just limited to estates. You never know who is going to move in next door where ever you live.

Upper class/richer’ people are all massive coke heads because they can afford it - is that a fair stereotype of all of them?

Rivergardens · 30/08/2023 18:14

Anyone can be a nightmare neighbour but housing lists are sorted by need and the points system so the more points the further up the list you go. We all know there is a social housing shortage.

Points could mean a disability, over crowding, escaping from DV and many other things, It can also mean addiction issues and issues that will affect the way someone lives that affects their neighbours even if it’s not their own fault. This sort of reason is why I personally would not want to buy on a social housing estate. My friend lives in a housing association house. It’s lovely and in the 10 years she has been there has had new neighbours on one side 4 times. One was a fab lovely family but the other 3 have had multiple problems that affect my friend, current occupant is on bail with her BF for GBH on a drug dealer mate.

Look at the crime report for that area if it’s available online. The road I live on the last time I checked had 2 burglaries. The estate near me about three roads away is riddled with anti social behaviours reports dotted all over. You can look at your area and then a map, it’s not super detailed but gives an indication.

https://www.police.uk/pu/your-area/