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Original poster

Ex-local authority flat- trying to convince DH...would you be keen to buy?

98 replies

TurquoiseDress · 27/08/2016 16:43

We are in the middle of the big property hunt (we are FTB).

Ideally looking for zones 2/3 in SE London, seen lots so far but not found anything we love, or even like that much.

Been very slow over the summer, not many new things coming on.

I saw this property on Rightmove:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53554903.html

It's in Beckenham which we don't know a great deal about apart from meeting some friends for a meal & drinks there- it's zone4/5 from what I've researched.

It's a 3-bed property which is appealing for us, however, DH says it's clearly ex-local authority and that is putting him off a viewing. It seems to have been on the market for ages too (since around Easter).

Would an ex-local authority property put you off buying?
I might just organise a viewing myself to see what it's like.
Another concern is that the 2nd & 3rd bedrooms appear rather small...am wondering if it's the original 2nd bedroom split in half.

Anyhow, please let me know what your thoughts are on ex-LA properties.

OP posts:
JennyHolzersGhost · 27/08/2016 18:35

PS. It's really not helpful to say 'ooh that would buy you the moon on a stick round here!' Because in most cases people wouldn't earn there what they earn in London. So they wouldn't be able to afford it. Which is why house prices in other areas are lower.

Original poster
TurquoiseDress · 27/08/2016 18:44

We're hoping for baby no.2 in the near future and really looking for 3 bedrooms, if possible.

In terms of trading up in a few years- we'd probably still go for 3 bed (as that's probably the limit of what we can/will be able to afford) but we'd like to buy a house (terrace or semi-detached) with a garden.

Obviously would like all this right now, but we are realistic to know that it's never going to happen living in London.

OP posts:
Original poster
TurquoiseDress · 27/08/2016 18:49

Although I'm a lot more enthusiastic about the property compared with DH, I've got concerns re the freeholder/council and the way costs can escalate.

From my research, I think Affinity Sutton as the leaseholders- and from all my frantic googling there don't seem to be many positive things said about them!

However, the location looks great- close walking distance to 2 mainline train stations which go to London Victoria or Charing Cross/London bridge.

To be completely honest, I really do not like the idea of buying a flat- with all the service charge & ground rent involved, dealing with the freeholder etc.

But then, this is the reality of FTB options in London today!

Another alternative is shared ownership or Help to buy London...but that's a whole other post and I'm not entirely convinced by either of these schemes. Plus we would only be able to buy a (new build) flat via these schemes.

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 27/08/2016 18:50

I would go and view the property, even if it is to discount it. I know nothing about London prices but I am a Housing Officer living in LA housing for the same authority that I work for! Go and have a look. And do some research.

CafeCremeEtCroissant · 27/08/2016 19:02

It wouldn't be for me. I wouldn't move to z4/5 for it.

Really, really look into ant 'first time buyer schemes'. They vary a lot & you generally only get one shot at it - see what you can get!

I had a flat with a lease. Never. Ever. Again. UNLESS it enables me to live in London in a decent area 😂 It's a nightmare but one d be willing to tolerate to live in London again. Moving to the 'burbs is crap.

Bertieboo1 · 27/08/2016 19:03

There's loads of potential here for renovating/redecorating and making it your own, which I would love. The size is great. It looks like quite a small block of flats, wonder if there are lots of blocks nearby or if it's a small independent block. I would definitely go and have a look. Much better than a teeny tiny 'pretty' flat that you can't swing a cat in.

CafeCremeEtCroissant · 27/08/2016 19:04

Oh & I'm with your DH. That bathroom would have to go - kitchen too & it needs fully decorating IMO. That's a lot of money, time & effort - I'd need to love the building OR know I could make good money on it.

Fifinella · 27/08/2016 19:17

We recently sold a Southwark ex-local authority flat to move really close to the flat you're looking at - the flat we sold had been on the market AGES before we bought it but sold over a weekend 5 years later, so ex-local authority doesn't have to be a bad thing!

The only issues we had with ex-local authority were the service charge and the threat of major works, which can be really expensive as people have said. Apart from that it was actually really nice having the council responsible for fixing things because they tended to be quite prompt at it - in our old block a lot of the people were still council tenants.

Beckenham is lovely. People might be put off that flat by the lack of primary schools? You'd be really close to Worsley Bridge, which doesn't have a great OFSTED, though it'll probably get better quickly - it only stopped being a Junior School a year or so ago, but apart from that it's not near any obvious schools. It's also a bit of a walk to the nearest shop (though that shop is probably Waitrose!)?

leslieknopeisdope · 27/08/2016 20:36

I would go for ex-LA over Help to Buy or shared ownership - both very restrictive in their own ways and the properties are completely overpriced. Just check there's no major works planned or budget accordingly for the possibility. Apparently, you can pay it back interest free over a number years...?

Pradaqueen · 27/08/2016 20:47

Beckenham is lovely ( I used to work near there) but the trains are not great for the city. Great schools hence why the market has exploded in the area. It depends where you need to commute to really. There are a lot of private blocks in the area that look that one so I wouldn't assume it is ex-lea. However, as a pp said the bills for repairs you could inherit could be astronomical so check first. As a sqf for the area it is good value - a three bed terraced Victorian house will set you back around £700k!

dontcallmelen · 27/08/2016 22:07

Hi Op as pp have said usually local authority are well built & spacious the road that, those flats are on is really lovely & very near stations/nurseries/ shops/parks etc beckenham is a good place for families, lots of facilities open spaces, good coffe shops & restaurants & some excellent schools.
Wouldnt hurt to arrange a viewing & have a walk around the area.

cestlavielife · 27/08/2016 22:24

With 1 or 2 dc you would be better looking for ground floor with small outside space that one doesn't even have small balcony . If you already have dc not a good plan to go for second floor. .. if you can find somewhere with even small outside space...

MrsJayy · 27/08/2016 22:29

You are not paying for somebody elses bathroom put a new 1 in .. I live/in ex council houses the area is fine the flat then house were great your dh is being a bit snooty you cant afford to be snooty.if the area is nice (enough) the flat is what you like go for it.

LittleBoxes · 28/08/2016 00:45

Just to give a positive view, I live (fairly) locally and the general area of Beckenham the flat is in is a very nice one, so I say go for it. Plus, last year we sold our ex-council flat in a much worse area than this one (on a big estate you may have driven past on the way to view this flat!) and it sold within 24 hours at a price double what we bought it for 12 years ago. We are now in a four-bedroom house and definitely not regretting our ex-council purchase.

LittleBoxes · 28/08/2016 00:46

(And Beckenham itself is a lovely place to move to!)

Muddle2000 · 28/08/2016 14:30

I had a look for you on Rightmove sold prices but I cannot see anything
that has sold in your block which means the other flats are tenants/renting? If so any repairs etc will be free for them but you will have to pay- you may find it annoying.
Affinty Sutton is a housing association and they have stuff about charges etc on their website.
Others have said they have bought ex-LA but that was probably with a RTB discount. You are being asked to pay the market rate so not such a good deal.
I would look at the lease carefully .

sorenipples · 28/08/2016 20:57

Personally I would be put off by distance between toilet and kitchen.

Being housing association wouldn't put me off viewing, although is a factor I would consider before buying especially any implications and conditions on the lease.

SomedayBaby · 28/08/2016 21:40

Being ex-council wouldn't put me off. Our first house was ex-council and they're positively desirable in my area. IME they tend to have bigger rooms and gardens, certainly more so that new builds.

racingpigeon · 28/08/2016 21:47

I live in an ex-council flat we bought under RTB, so ex-council wouldn't put me off. But I would have thought you could get a house rather than a flat if you're looking in SE London in zone 4/5. I've seen some 3 bed houses in your budget on Rightmove in Bromley/Beckenham areas, and a house would be preferable to a flat if it's in budget, as you have outside space/no service charges/no risk of big leaseholder charges.

EssentialHummus · 28/08/2016 21:51

My flat is ex-council, and I really like it - so much so that I'm now looking to find a larger example of the same for a family home.

Freeholder (Lewisham) is usually competent.

S charge is fine.

It's incredibly spacious and well-built.

There are two stereotypical nuisance-causing council tenants in the building, everyone else (25 flats) just rubs along fine. In the grand scheme of things, it's fine.

It was on the market for a year or so before I bought. Since then, with the area becoming more popular, it's gone up in value in the same proportion as the Victorian stock (though obviously it cost less initially).

At least go see it. With a bit of careful digging on the land registry, you can see how much of the block is still council owned (and I think a solicitor would enquire as some mortgage lenders have limits on this).

thisismyfirsttime · 28/08/2016 22:04

I live in a LA flat in London but there's no way I'd choose to buy one. A friend of my dp's lived on the ground floor of a LA block and the council decided to put an entry system on the stairwell because there was a problem with ASB and they were hit with a bill for £1000's despite their door being outside the bit that was blocked off. My gp's were also hit with a big bill for upgrading their entry system which worked on a buzzer before but the LA put in video entry. They appealed it but couldn't opt out and were stung for hundreds. Our downstairs neighbour in our old place paid towards roof works that absolutely didn't affect them. I'd be too worried about being hit with a bill for works that I didn't ask for and couldn't choose the timing of!

seven201 · 29/08/2016 11:23

I personally wouldn't buy if the block
Is still owned/managed by the council. I have heard of ridiculous bills (many thousands) for things like new Windows.

Original poster
TurquoiseDress · 29/08/2016 13:38

Thank you for all the thoughts & comments...please keep posting!

Starting to think twice now as I've been trying to visualise the reality of living on the 2nd floor with a toddler & no lift!

Think we should really be looking for something ground floor with some outdoor space even if just a tiny patio or something.

To those who have bought ex-LA, did you do it through right to buy (at a much reduced price) or did you pay the "full market rate" as it were?

Still can't help thinking this place is way overpriced, despite being in an apparently lovely area.

Why hasn't it sold since coming onto the market in March?

Re-selling would concern me, and the fact it has taken ages so far makes me wonder.

I know we'd be buying in a great area, but it would worry me that we would struggle to sell when the time comes.

To the previous poster who looked up sold prices- thank you!- I did that as well on rightmove, and there is nothing sold recently to compare it with.

I'm guessing this means the occupants are all either council tenants and/or the property was bought before the mid-nineties, for probably v v little under RTB.

May still arrange to take a look, but I think I'm now trying to convince myself that it's worth it!

OP posts:
Original poster
TurquoiseDress · 29/08/2016 13:41

Yes- ridiculous bills that you have no control over is one thing that concerns me too!

Especially the thought that others in the block won't have to pay.

Isn't it when the owners have the "share of freehold" that they can get together & make decisions about how the pot of money is spent, and which provider/supplier they use?

This is something major about buying a flat that puts me right off...but it's all we can afford right now Sad

OP posts:
Penfold007 · 29/08/2016 15:05

There's only 91 years left on the lease, that would put me off to start.