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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:

TheFirstMrsDV · 05/03/2017 11:09

getting how is that any different from living next to a privately owned house?

Its seems that the assumption is that only troublesome, inconsiderate people are housed by the council.

That is prejudice and snobbery however you want to dress it up.

Funnyonion17 · 05/03/2017 11:12

No, and I live in a council house!

If I had the choice I wouldn't, simply as in 8 years I've never had a decent neighbour. Drug dealers, police involved etc.

FruitCider · 05/03/2017 18:54

Seriously? My partner and I are both professionals, who happen to live in a council flat. I'm out the house 06:10 - 21:00 at least 3 days a week, my partner is out 07:30 - 17:00 5 days a week, we have no dinner parties, any guests leave at 21:00 and we are in bed by 22:00.

My neighbours that own their flats on the other hand... very noisy? Screeching, screaming, shouting, drilling at 1am, house parties until 3am at the weekend. I can't wait until the council finally decides to rehouse me away from the noise nuisance I experience from home owners

FruitCider · 05/03/2017 19:00

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

Because I pay £450 a month vs £900 a month, I have security of tenancy and it's well maintained? Why WOULDN'T you live in council housing if you couldn't afford to buy? What a daft question to ask...

ricecrispies16 · 05/03/2017 20:56

To assume that council/HA tenants are there because they can't afford fees is ridiculous.

I've done both. Lived in privately rented for a few years before my relationship ended and I went into a HA property. I'm the same person I was when I handed over £2k for my private rented as I was signing for my HA house.

I'm certainly not poverty stricken and/or a benefit scrounge. Me and my partner work, have a lovely house, pleasant children and pay our rent.

You're ignorance is shocking.

ricecrispies16 · 05/03/2017 20:58

Just to add, I'd choose HA over private rent any day of the week. Main reason being security and flexibility.

gamerchick · 05/03/2017 21:04

I know, it's a weird way of thinking. 'oh I earn more than a lot of people so I choose to go into an insecure tenancy where I can be kicked out whenever and hand over a shit ton of money in the first place and a shit ton of money every month to live there just because it's private.'

It's a weird kind of snobbery, I can't wrap my head around it.

Original poster

nappyrat · 05/03/2017 21:50

Wow! Really surprised by the responses to my question why would people rent a council house if they could afford not to.

I thought (silly mE?!? ;) ) that council houses were for people who had fallen on hard times and needed a roof over their heads. Sounds like that's not the case?? Is this right?

Have to say, I am quite shocked. My view of state help (financial or practical - such as a council house) is that it should be for those who need it. Have no issue at all with genuine need, in fact I think it is our duty as a civilised society to help those in hardship or trouble - temporary or otherwise.

OP posts:

gamerchick · 05/03/2017 22:05

Council houses are not linked to benefits. They never have been and hopefully never will be. Although going on threads on here people won't be happy until they are.

sluj · 05/03/2017 22:20

I've worked in social housing for over 30 years now and would never EVER invest money in such a situation. Believe me I've seen it all and would never want to live with it.
Most social housing tenants are absolutely fine as tenants but the last few years have definitely shifted so that new tenants are generally people with issues. Perhaps not so much with family sized properties but definitely the case with one beds.
I hope I haven't offended anyone but this is my day to day working experience.

The OP is absolutely right in thinking that people with mortgages to pay have a different set of priorities and some tenants won't care what time of the night it is or how their lifestyle conflicts with others.
Tomorrow we will be serving notice on a woman who has made her hard working social housing neighbours life a misery with her parties, swearing, intimidation and drug dealing. I fully expect this to cost us over £8k to get possession and take about 18 months. The neighbours will have to appear in court as witnesses.
Would I buy into that potential? No way

Alfieisnoisy · 06/03/2017 06:37

I think mostly social housing is indeed for those who have fallen on hard times.

I was housed when my marriage broke down and I needed to return 200 miles back to my parents. I was with them for months in an 8ft by 6ft room with DS who is autistic. I couldn't work full time and so private renting was not an option.

I thank heaven for social housing because it out a roof over the head of myself and DS at a time when we really and desperately needed it, I have a lifetime tenancy which is great because DS might always need to call this place home.

Having had one set of crap neighbours though I can fully appreciate why the OP is wary. And yes I know there are no guarantees within home ownership areas either but like it or not it IS less likely you will have crappy neighbours.

Like I said OP, have a travel round the area at various times of day. Knock on some doors nearby and ask what the road is like. That should give you a pretty good idea of how things are.

FruitCider · 06/03/2017 06:51

I thought (silly mE?!? ;) ) that council houses were for people who had fallen on hard times and needed a roof over their heads. Sounds like that's not the case?? Is this right?

Correct. Each local authority has its own preference system. My current landlord gives reasonable preference to working households in some areas. Generally, people that are homeless, fleeing domestic abuse, overcrowded or disabled have higher priority but not meeting thus criteria does not preclude you from applying. There is usually an income/savings cap, in my area you are not allowed to apply to the register if you earn more than £50k a year or have more than £50k in savings. I have neither.

Social housing was never intended for those fallen on hard times, its original purpose was to give stability to those that cannot afford to buy. That still applies.

pinkhorse · 06/03/2017 07:01

I agree with you OP. I wouldn't buy a house next to a council house either and I don't know anybody that would.

Kiroro · 06/03/2017 09:47

I agree with you OP. I wouldn't buy a house next to a council house either and I don't know anybody that would.

Buying an ex-LA flat or house in London is totally common... and obvs not all the flats/houses will be ex.

In fact, the other half of my semi is current LA. No issues. It is a late sixties/early seventies couple with grown up children (who no longer live there).

LA properties are well maintained generally. There is much more recourse if you have shit LA tenants as neighbors.

arwenearlythereyet · 06/03/2017 09:59

You can get horrible neighbours anywhere. OP, while I understand your concern at investing in a home where the neighbours are a nightmare, I truly don't understand the way you equate being wealthy with being a good neighbour.

Would you consider the people who spend 2 years digging out basement extensions in Notting Hill good neighbours? Would you consider someone who consistently parked you in with their BMW 7-series a good neighbour?

You are being silly.

arwenearlythereyet · 06/03/2017 10:00

PS: I own a terrace between 2 council houses. Lovely neighbours - we cat/baby/house-sit for each other. Half the street council-owned. Can't tell the difference.

MissDuke · 06/03/2017 10:31

It is more to do with the area than the actual status of the neighbours, if that makes any sense at all? Eg we just sold our house for about 20k less than a property about a quarter of a mile away - the other property was much nicer than ours inside and a fair bit bigger. However the other property is an ex-council house and the street is known to suffer from anti social behaviour from youths. Unfortunately that has reduced house prices in the immediate area. I don't think anyone knows or cares which of the families are still council tenants and which are privately owned but it is more to do with the problems in the area.

Rightly or wrongly people tend to associate council estates with anti social behaviour so that might be off putting to some, but if it is actually a nice quiet area, then who cares if it is council property or not?

Some people are funny about rentals in general. A few neighbours have asked if our buyers are landlords and we said we don't know despite knowing full well they are, as far as we are concerned it is known of their business!

Kiroro · 06/03/2017 11:13

Half the street council-owned. Can't tell the difference.

I can tell the difference because the council ones on my street have new roofs and new front doors!

notanothernamechangebabes · 06/03/2017 11:19

Just so you know... bob crow lived in a council house, and he could definitely afford to rent privately...

As does a former popstar I know, and several poshos who are playing the system.

Lol at whoever said you "might catch council". I'd be more worried for your neighbours... bet you'll be all over them about privet hedge heights, summer BBQ smoke and the sound of plebian laughter filtering through your shared wall after 8pm...

notanothernamechangebabes · 06/03/2017 11:22

Bless you OP.

What state help there is now (and there's precious little) does not go to those who need it most.

It (generally) goes to those who can play the system the best. Or got lucky in the welfare state lottery that the tories have crafted.

MtheWad · 06/03/2017 11:26

My views on people on benefits are not what you might expect. I think it's a bloody tough life (one I have some - limited - experience of) and can happen to us all - just takes a bit of bad luck.

Wow you are incredibly ignorant. Not everyone who lives in a council property is on benefits.
Seriously it doesn't matter if you buy ex council or not you can get anyone living next door to you. In fact I'd probably prefer to live next to council tenants. I grew up in a council property and everyone I know who has or has had one in the past has always looked after them and felt incredibly lucky to have a home!
Urgh snobbery is disgusting.

xStefx · 06/03/2017 11:27

I bought next to a council house. The house I bought was an ex council house itself so got a good price for a decent size house.

The neighbours are lovely, really really nice. I hope they never move.
I think I probably got lucky but am so glad I did.

Alfieisnoisy · 06/03/2017 13:06

Half the street council-owned. Can't tell the difference.

"I can tell the difference because the council ones on my street have new roofs and new front doors!"

Kioro, you ARE aware that landlords quite often want to mainta n their properties yes?

That's why he council or HA ones have new roofing and/or front doors. It has nothing to do with the tenant inside.

imjessie · 06/03/2017 13:11

DixieNormas · 06/03/2017 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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