Moving to a house on a road with assisted housing on it

[Brighton2]

Hi everyone - I’ve just joined as we’re currently in the process of moving house and trying to conceive. I wondered if I could ask a little advice, we are in the process of buying a pretty house on a pretty little street in Worthing. We currently live in quite a residential area, and the new house is nearer town but has lots of character and 3 bedrooms. We have walked up and down the new street loads of times, but recently I noticed there is a sign on the house 2 doors down from the one we’re buying which says ‘images are being monitored for the purposes of crime prevention and public safety. This scheme is controlled by sanctuary housing association.’ I called the number on the sign and they said that this house is assisted living for people with mental health problems. They are visited and helped by staff regularly and sometimes have staff living with them but for this house they just have visits. It’s a 3 bed Victorian house and apparently is split into rooms for the people living there.

We are feeling a little concerned... this is probably really snobby and awful but I feel a little worried about creating a family home with that so nearby (even though, without the sign we’d have no idea it was there) and it’s set alarm bells ringing. Obviously I don’t think people with mental health problems should be locked away but it’s just that the cctv suggests there have been problems and I worry about the high turnover of different people living there. It’s the lack of control of knowing what the severity of the mental health condition is and I am also a little worried about if we bought it and then when we eventually sold it would other people be put off buying it?
The house looks in really good condition and has a very pretty garden at the back which is probably maintained by the housing association. We have spoken to one neighbour before we knew about this and he did say it was a really nice street and people stay a long time, but he did also say ‘which end is the house you’re buying... yeah you’ll be alright’ I don’t know what that meant!

Wondering if we should pull out before we spend too much with the solicitors... please let me know your thoughts, am I just being paranoid?

You've made the right decision. I wish I had known that the house 4 doors down was an assisted living house split into flats, it's a large Victorian terrace and there is a huge turnover of tenants. Some have been ok some have been absolutely crazy. We've had drug addicts screaming in the street at the other tenants as they won't give them money do buy drugs, late night parties and lots of fighting. There is one lad who sits on the doorstop most days smoking weed. Everyone else in the street are lovely and there are many young couples with young children. It's just this one house. The police are never interested and I think every one has just given up reporting it all.

Thank you and Yes I do agree, we may be naive but it seems our house will sell quickly if we put it on again next year. Obviously nothing is guaranteed but it’s a two bed house on a nice road with a west facing garden and ours is the only house on the street with a drive, we’ve done it up in a scandi way and put back in original features. We’re selling at under £300k so attract first time buyers as no stamp duty to pay. We were first time buyers when we bought it and when we put it on the market it sold in 3 days and everyone who viewed it offered. We don’t really want to go into rented, too much hassle and expense. Maybe it won’t be easy next time but we are happy in our current house so I think we will wait ☺️

It’s awful isn’t it when this happens, I really feel for you. So unfair on the people living on the street. Hopefully you’ll be able to move away from it one day? X

Don't do it

I don’t think I can knock as it’s just like a normal house, most likely one of the residents would answer. I’m currently waiting for more info from the housing association but they’ve gone quiet now. We’re going to pull out when the solicitor calls me back

A psychiatrist I knew once told me it's not the people with mental health problems, who are receiving help and support in the community you should worry about, it's the people who haven't yet been picked up on that are a danger. Think about it, if they are known to mental health services, and were a potential risk to public they would be in a mental health hospital detained under the mental health act. To be in a supported living situation these are people who are better, but need some support getting back to normal life again.

The CCTV is likely for the protection of the residents and nothing more. For example if one of them went out one morning and didn't come back, they would be able to check exactly when they left and know exactly what the person was wearing, which would help in finding them. The people living there are also likely vulnerable and thus more at risk from the public than average, so CCTV can help protect the residents of the supported housing from descriminatatory attacks and people who may take advantage of them.