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Original poster

Would you buy a house right next to a council house?

266 replies

nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:00

When I say right next door, it's one half of a semi. The other half is the council house. Most in the (small) avenue seem to have been sold off to private ownership, but the one attached to the one I like, has not (I don't think).

It's £400k FFS!

OP posts:
LostMyDotBrain · 04/03/2017 18:32

My views on people on benefits are not what you might expect.

You're not talking about benefits recipients though. You're talking about people who rent from the council. The two groups aren't one and the same.

dalmatianmad · 04/03/2017 18:32

Lostmydotbrain

They're a very elite breed don't ya know Wink

Gallavich · 04/03/2017 18:32

nappy
I'm finding it really fucking hard to reply to you without swearing and throwing stuff but you seem ignorant rather than malicious so I'll try...
firstly, council housing was never intended to be a safety net for people in poverty. In fact, council housing was developed to be high quality housing for working and lower middle class families. It used to be fairly easy to access before the cult of home ownership took hold.
These days, it takes very little to get into housing difficulties. Working single parents and families on lower wages can find themselves homeless and unable to find a private rental through no fault of their own. It's incredibly difficult to find landlords who will rent to low paid families, assuming you can find the £2k+ that you need just to pay deposits and fees.
Housing choice is becoming a privilege in this country. It's a travesty. You could try reading some blogs or articles about it rather than assuming everyone in council housing is benefit claiming workshy anti social scum.

Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:32

Bless - cheers, that's really helpful

MoroccoMaybe - what does NDN mean?

OP posts:
TheCrowFromBelow · 04/03/2017 18:34

I certainly wouldn't, anyone could end up living there, and they're there because they can't afford their own property to own
Hahahahaha
No, people can't afford houses now because the ex council stock was bought under "right to buy" and then sold on.

And then OPs "disclaimer" about the exceptions to the stereotypes.

I am Shock Shock at this thread

PickAChew · 04/03/2017 18:35

As with any house in any situation, it's worth doing a drive or walk by at different types of day. You soon get a feel for any extremes among the neighbours.

Also check the police website for records of antisocial behaviour, criminal damage etc.

LostMyDotBrain · 04/03/2017 18:35

I think those of you who are saying I am being a snob end of are just not being honest.

How so? I live on a street that's almost exclusively HA properties. We're not one homogeneous mass with a set of values and morals that intrinsically differ to those of homeowners. A couple of people park inconsiderately but that's about it as far as being bad neighbours is concerned. What's dishonest about that?

Gallavich · 04/03/2017 18:35

People in council housing and people on benefits are not the same group of people Hmm

MoroccoMaybe · 04/03/2017 18:35

NDN = next door neighbour

JaneEyre70 · 04/03/2017 18:36

My eldest DD lives in a housing association property, and she is so lucky that they maintain the house really well and she's had issues with one of her neighbours that was dealt with very firmly and promptly. I'd say it's far easier to get rid of problem neighbours via a council than through private renting. My poor mum lives next door to private renters and she's had 4 lots in a row that have been a nightmare. They rarely stay longer than 6 months and the landlord does no maintenance or upkeep at all so it looks an eyesore. Environmental health are hopeless and she's stuck as attempts to sell have been a waste when viewers see the run down house next door and hear the noise from them. She'd be far happier living next to council owned property tbh.

JustifiedSinner · 04/03/2017 18:36

I think what I am trying to say is that I would value having a neighbour who is on my wavelength (whatever that is), and I might have far less chance of getting this if I live next to a council house.

Let's unpick this statement, OP. You appear to be saying that home ownership is the main criteria for being 'on your wavelength', which seems to mean you're afraid of catching prole from the NDNs. Nice.

I think those of you who are saying I am being a snob end of are just not being honest. My 400k is bloody bloody hard earned. I cannot afford to just waste it on a risky investment

What. you're a cash buyer for 400k? Either way, I don't think anyone gaily flings 400k around when buying a house, but this is not what you said in your original post, with all that coyly non-specific snobbery about people being 'on your wavelength'. If what you mean is 'Is buying a semi-detached house where the other 'half' is a council property likely to affect the resale value of the house?', then say that.

LostMyDotBrain · 04/03/2017 18:38

dalmatianmad

I quite agree, but however are you letting them live in (shock horror) a HA property!? Wink

Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:38

Gallavich - thanks. But I do not think that 'everyone in council housing is benefit claiming workshy anti social scum'. I really do not.

But you yourself admit that council housing is - basically - for people who can't afford to rent on their own.

Now I do realise that the range of people who can't afford to rent on their own is massive.....massive. But it is still people who cannot afford to rent through the usual channels (isn't it?!).

A few years ago, I split up with the father of my child and was horrified to find that no one would rent to me. I was a woman who had earned £100k+ before having my child, and just because I was then a stay at home single mum, no private landlord would touch me. It scared the living daylights out of me, and has made me very nervous of not owning my own house again.

OP posts:
Serin · 04/03/2017 18:38

OP I find your thread very provoking.
To state that you think people are not replying honestly and are really just as snobby as you is really not on.

There are good and bad in all walks of life, you would be surprised at the number of kids in private schools and big houses who have parents in prison.

Please don't buy this house, you wont be happy there and the other residents do not need you in their community.

OnHold · 04/03/2017 18:39

I live on a council estate. Right next door to council tenants.

The local CoOp does sell hummus though so you would be ok.

LostMyDotBrain · 04/03/2017 18:42

OP, yet this into your head: council housing is not for people who can't afford to rent on their own. That's what housing benefit helps with.

Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:42

JustifiedSinner - not actually as bothered about the re-sale value as the life whilst I;m there. I want to minimise as far as humanly possible the risk of having people next door that are going to make living next to them unpleasant.

I am never going to be able to reduce the risk to zero because - as people have pointed out - you can get nightmares neighbours whoever you live next to. But I am talking about probabilities.

OP posts:
Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:43

Serin - You sound as judgemental as me!! Just the other (more fashionable!) way around. You have no idea what I could contribute to a community.

OP posts:
FancyPantsDelacroixTheFirst · 04/03/2017 18:44

My lovely neighbour lives in a semi, both privately owned from moment they were built. She is being driven potty by her neighbours, noise, dogs and building works going over the property line. My MIL in law has had the same problems which her own, privately owning, neighbours over the years.

On our nice, small, entirely privately owned estate there are two noisy dogs, a man who likes to scream abuse at one of the dogs over the fence when the owners are out, someone who keeps complaining to the council about everyone and everything (park more than two vehicles on your drive? Must be running a dodgy car business), a phantom weedkiller, a revy boy racer, and a teenager who likes to lurk on corners being intimidating (he thinks), with his friends, in hoodies. I grew up on a council estate, it was tame by comparison.

The point being, your neighbours could be lovely, they could be fiends from hell, you don't know (do you know anyone in the area? Could you find out?). Even if you bought a house next to one that was owned, there is no guarantee that the neighbours will remain there forever.

OnHold · 04/03/2017 18:44

I think living next door to you would be unpleasant.

Gallavich · 04/03/2017 18:44

But you yourself admit that council housing is - basically - for people who can't afford to rent on their own

That's not what I said. And even if that's what you took from it, so what? Why is there a moral value in being able to persuade a private landlord to rent to you? What difference do you think it makes to a person's character that they can/can't afford letting agent's fees?! Confused

LostMyDotBrain · 04/03/2017 18:44

Then buy a detached. And do those of us who rent a favour and live elsewhere. It wouldn't be kind to inflict these attitudes on them.

Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:46

Lost - OP, yet this into your head: council housing is not for people who can't afford to rent on their own.

You really haven't explained this.

Why would someone rent a council house if they could afford to rent a private landlord house?

OP posts:
FancyPantsDelacroixTheFirst · 04/03/2017 18:47

Just to be clear, my lovely neighbour's hellacious neighbours are not us, but the ones on the other side, despite both DH and I hailing from council estates. Grin

Original poster
nappyrat · 04/03/2017 18:48

Galla -
What difference do you think it makes to a person's character that they can/can't afford letting agent's fees?! confused

Genuinely nothing.

OP posts: