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Original poster

buying next to a council house

86 replies

user1471461798 · 14/10/2018 18:02

My parents have had their house on the market for 18 months now, getting 3-4.viewings a week. No offers, they have dropped the price from 370000 to 335000. They live in a small village in Hampshire.
There are 4 council houses in their road, they bought in 1980 and have lived
there since it was built in late 60’s. The others are still council.
The village is very sought after and the average price is 750000.
They haven’t even had offers, feedback is it’s too small- average 3 bed semi. with extension on the back, huge kitchen as they knocked through.

No clutter, my mum has hates clutter and is a clean freak, decorated in white throughout, grey modern kitchen. There is a garage and plenty of room to extend, what more can they do?
They need to move to a bungalow and they are around 280000 in the next small town , so can’t afford to take less than 310000. But they haven’t even had any offers.
Is it because it’s joined to a council house, would you buy?

OP posts:
namechangedtoday15 · 14/10/2018 19:46

The telegraph pole seems overbearing / lots of overhead wires and Bed 3 is very small. Am guessing people love the period properties / idea of the village then see the house, realise how much they'd have to spend on it and think it's very priced.

Original poster
user1471461798 · 14/10/2018 19:46

I have bought and sold lots of properties and the fact it looks dated wouldn’t put me off, it definitely doesn’t need decorating. the wardrobes can be removed surely. Not really sure what to do, Dropping the price by much more wouldn’t be possible as they couldn’t afford to buy anything smaller. They won’t get a mortgage now. Even the estate agent is stumped, he lives in the same road and sells most of the properties in the village and doesn’t understand why it’s not selling.

OP posts:
TulipsInBloom1 · 14/10/2018 19:50

Could it be that people who are viewing it are also viewing others in the area which then have a better layout? It could just be something as simple as one has an etrance hall or a separate shower etc.

Pic of the bathroom is needed.

To me it looks like a FTBers home - no separate dining room etc. Is 350k within the grasp of a ftber round your way?

Jimjamjooney · 14/10/2018 19:52

The lack of inbuilt storage in the bedrooms could be an issue. I know you can see it in the photos but maybe when people arrive for a viewing they realise they may need much smaller wardrobes than anticipated.

HoleyCoMoley · 14/10/2018 19:56

Sorry but I wouldn't pay that for a semi in a village that has no facilities, hardly any transport, it's really pretty isolated which is hard if you've got kids. For that money I would prefer to live in fordingbridge which doesnt have a lot going on in ringwood. I hope they find a suitable buyer soon though,

Orangepear · 14/10/2018 20:00

Gas bottle central heating and cess pit drainage would put me off.

Original poster
user1471461798 · 14/10/2018 20:07

No houses in the village have mains gas or mains sewerage. I think they should take it off the market until after Brexit.. Thank you for all your replies.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 14/10/2018 20:08

Presumably that is septic tank, not cesspit. Neither of those things are the issue unless the whole village is deserted.

Septic tanks are used just as.mains drainage assuming people know the difference between a toilet.or sink and a bin. If they don't they get the lesson quickly.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 14/10/2018 20:16

The council will often buy back ex-council houses. They might offer slightly less than you could get on a buoyant market, but there's no chain, and a very quick sale. I'd suggest they ring up the council and get them over fora valuation.

sbplanet · 14/10/2018 20:32

It's somewhat old fashioned inside. It looks well-cared for though. Not sure I'd be keen on a fenced dog run either, but I'm a cat person.

We nearly bought a house in the same village 15 years ago.

sbplanet · 14/10/2018 20:37

Oh and this talk of ex-council being a problem is nonsense. It's not on a huge estate and being ex-council is a decent size compared to many new build. If folk with a limited budget want to live in a nice country area often an ex-local authority house is a good first choice.

Bestseller · 14/10/2018 20:43

That's true sbplanet, but its because the excouncil places give you a lot for your money. They wouldn't be so popular if they were priced the same as a privately built house

JamesBlonde1 · 14/10/2018 20:43

It would put me off too. A house is a home first, then hopefully an investment. I’d be worried about being able to resell it.

Loads of people will come on here and say how expensive ex-councils are and they’ve made profit. Well that’s nice.

But pound for pound on location and size, the private, homeowner occupied will always appeal more.

If there was an anonymous sample of the whole village and of potential buyers that’s what they would say.

Sounds like they’re going to have to reduce the sale price, even though it looks very lovely.

sbplanet · 14/10/2018 20:52

We've bought two ex-local authority houses, both in a rural area. We couldn't afford the private housing in the same area. And to be honest weren't bothered about that. As I said you often get more for your money, but yes they won't sell for the same as private build on a like for like basis.

So if the OPs parents are trying for that it is overpriced.

I still think it's the 'extras' on the property - the dog run, the big shed. Plus the old-fashioned kitchen and the bedroom with over-the-bed storage. No bathroom pics either - old fashioned? These things cost money to change and if it's already at the top of it's price then they have to accept that they won't get their price.

What offers have they had OP?

Bestseller · 14/10/2018 20:54

Our first house was excouncil. We bought it because we could buy a three bed terrace with a decent garden for the same price as a one bed starter home on a private estate.

When we came to move on, we found people were asking double what ours was worth for really very little extra space.

Right or wrong, it makes a big difference to the price.

HoleyCoMoley · 14/10/2018 20:54

Do they have a cesspit or a septic tank for waste drainage, there is a huge difference in maintenance and costs involved between the two.

Applepudding2018 · 14/10/2018 20:56

Having just read the post stating there is a river running past the bottom of the garden I think this may be a problem. With all the flooding we've had over recent years I certainly wouldn't chose to buy next to a river. I also wouldn't chose a house with that much ivy on her front.

I do, however, live in an ex council house. And yes, properties in my road are worth less than those in nearby streets where they are private builds. Daft really, as the council properties (1940s, post war) are better built and with larger rooms than the newer private properties. When we first bought our house the house next door was still council. Our neighbours have been an elderly man, followed by a family who have now bought it themselves. I think in many authorities council houses are a premium and tenants can only get a house if they are a family with children and a history of being a previous good tenant.

Japanesejazz · 14/10/2018 21:00

Do they have covenant consent for the garage?

SputnikBear · 14/10/2018 21:04

Whereas if it's a non council house you're guaranteed perfect neighbours. No-one in private houses ever have problem neighbours
Yes but council tenants are more likely to be problematic. Alcoholics, addicts, and other problem tenants aren’t likely to be able to hold down a job and pay a mortgage. If your neighbour is paying a mortgage they’re more likely to work for a living and go to bed quietly on week nights, etc.

WomanWithAltitude · 14/10/2018 21:08

I'm surprised to see people are put off by the dog run.... It's so easy to remove, surely it wouldn't be a dealbreaker? It's a small fence, nothing more.

Squirreltamer · 14/10/2018 21:24

I think it’s a tiny bit overpriced but not enough to not get offers around the now stated price.

Number 35 on the other street over went for 285k this time last year so pretty much same price now due to recent fall. This house is of the same style and same size

This is the house you should be using to gauge the value of your parents house.

That house was recently decorated with new bathroom and kitchen. +10%/15% of your parents value

No parking - 15% - but quiet road so not such a huge decrease compared to city etc.

No garage - 5/- 10%

No conservatory - 5% for some. But I hate them so would be thinking about ripping it out for a proper extension.

Downstairs toilet + 5%

Garden is 5 metres shorter but they both back onto woods/river so no difference in values to me.

This sold at the time your parents house was on the market at 370k?? When did they drop the price as the market has stagnated in the past 6 months.

People will use this house as a gauge due to the same style and layout. They will then work out how much it’s negatives and postives are worth to them. I’d pin the house as 320k as there is the potential to add more value than the other house and it has parking/garage. If this were in a city I’d be adding a lot more to the value for the potential to side extend and parking. A lot more.

sbplanet · 14/10/2018 21:24

It's not just the dog run, it's the rest too. It all costs money.

It's an old 80s kitchen, with some painted doors. What is the bathroom like? I've just looked at the floor plans again and noticed there's a sink in the second bedroom...

...it's old fashioned and needs work, that perhaps older sellers can't see.

Squirreltamer · 14/10/2018 21:30

Sink in bedroom = students urinal :) +5%

MovingThisYearHopefully · 14/10/2018 21:47

Firstly it clearly is incredibly dated & needs a full refurbishment & redecoration. The price should reflect this, which it currently doesn't.

The thing that stands out to me as hugely offputting to me & the vast majority of buyers is that you say you have a room in the house that is used for dogs. I saw a house with an indoor kennel once. It stunk to high heaven & is looking to sell for 100k less than the original price. I'm sure the owners are oblivious to the problem, even 2 years after putting it on the market & 100's of viewings later. Hmm Do not underestimate how offputting pet smells are to buyers, regardless of how nice the house is. This is your issue in my opinion.

Bestseller · 14/10/2018 21:49

I think immaculate but dated houses can be tricky. People don't mind buying a wreck to do up but it seems wrong to buy a house in perfectly good order just to rip everything out