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Buying a housing assoc flat

18 replies

DaisyNGO · 06/11/2021 19:08

Does anyone have experience of the following
A modern block of flats that was partly built as a private development and partly as housing association or housing for key workers?

We saw a flat like this today. It's easily the best option for our budget. I can't work out what the cons are. It was very rushed, the appointment was made this morning and then we saw it at midday. We've already been stunned at how fast flats are being snapped up - and how little you get for your money.

The EA said that the posh bit is managed by a management company, the not posh bit is managed by the Local Authority, and he said the LA are often better at sorting out problems.

The bit we looked at overlooks the main road, very busy indeed, whereas the posh part overlooks quieter side roads.

It's definitely the most value for money we have come across while looking. I have a couple of relatives in the area who I know will say there are problems with this kind of properties but then have nothing concrete to say, just snobbery.

My main concern is that people might feel private buyers are taking away housing stock and be angry about it, but if it's being sold then it's no longer available as anything else?

I'd be really grateful for any thoughts or advice. Thank you.

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 07/11/2021 13:00

Can you listen to the noise level on a weekday? It might help you decide.

DaisyNGO · 07/11/2021 19:02

Thank you Mosaic
I'm not sure we can do a second viewing but I wonder if weekday will make much difference?

What kind of noise were you thinking? I always tend to think of neighbour noise as sheer luck.

OP posts:
Xfox · 07/11/2021 22:26

I'm guessing Mosaic meant the road you mentioned? If it's very busy on a weekend it may be unbearable during the week?

DaisyNGO · 07/11/2021 22:56

@Xfox

I'm guessing Mosaic meant the road you mentioned? If it's very busy on a weekend it may be unbearable during the week?
Oh, that's okay, I know the road

I was more worried that many people are horrified at the idea of buying ex HA or ex council but the more research I do, the more I think it's a weird judgey thing and not a legal or practical issue.

OP posts:
DaisyNGO · 07/11/2021 22:58

Sorry, I maybe shouldn't have mentioned the main road

I just said it because it seems to be the difference between the posh bit and the bit we are looking at.

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 08/11/2021 00:40

There's a development like that near me. In E18. Yes I meant the road noise in the week.

silentpool · 08/11/2021 03:11

I would pop by in the evening for a second viewing. You will get a better idea of neighbour noise and peak hour traffic.

Having lived as a private renter in a council block of 4, I would never do it again. One tenant had psychological issues and would either lock himself in for days (then police would batter down the shared front door and his door) or would wander round in the nude/smoke drugs. The other tenants were illegally subletting, running scams with registering cars to non-existent people and companies and one was on parole - had a few visits from the police looking for him. It wasn't even particularly cheap to rent! Of course the letting agency hid all this from me, till I'd signed the lease.

If they are key workers, that's one thing because they will be working. But if it's HA, beware as you cannot control your neighbours and their behaviour and the HA may do nothing if there are problems. I ended up having to buy an air purifier as there was so much cigarette (and marijuana) coming into my apartment. They would do nothing about noise, dangerous behaviour etc.

DaisyNGO · 08/11/2021 05:58

silent I was beginning to think we had rented in the same place - except mine wasn't council and it was a block of 6. The biggest druggie was an owner. And they constantly left the main door open. If we bought in that block, it would cost £50k more! Because it's pretty, basically.

The guy running the car scam tried to say to me "oh I bought a Mercedes" when it was parked outside. 😂

There were other issues and his landlord ignored them but then he did a midnight flit after trashing the place, pulling everything off the wall that he could fit in a stolen car... then when the landlord came by to clear up, he apologised for not listening to complaints earlier.

I think neighbours are really a case of luck.

Second viewing not an option before offer but we will try to do that this week so any withdrawal will be early. It's a 4 hour round trip from where we are now.

OP posts:
Blueuggboots · 08/11/2021 06:35

I purchased an ex-HA flat. The neighbours were HA tenants and I had the most miserable 14 months of my life with constant anti-social behaviour, loud music, criminal activity including vandalising of one car and torching of the other.
But obviously, not all HA tenants are like that.

silentpool · 08/11/2021 06:40

@DaisyNGO so funny. I thought it was just me living the dream 🤣.

DaisyNGO · 08/11/2021 08:50

[quote silentpool]@DaisyNGO so funny. I thought it was just me living the dream 🤣.[/quote]
Oh it happens everywhere!

I thought this thread was going to raise legal issues rather than anything else

But as we are on social issues, does anyone feel it makes a difference whether it's ex HA or key workers? Also there are cameras everywhere. That's good or bad I guess. Could be standard or could be they felt the need to fit them.

Starting to panic a bit and thinking, if it looks too good to be true, price wise....

OP posts:
Eastie77Returns · 08/11/2021 12:13

There are of course good and bad neighbours wherever you live, irrespective of housing tenure. Lots of cameras could mean crime is a problem or there could be an active residents association that has urged the council to install them to deter criminals.

I used to own a HA property, originally owned a % via Shared Ownership, bought 100% and then sold. The block I lived in was made up of key workers and non-kW's but we were all owner occupiers. The blocks adjacent to ours were council and HA tenants. I can't lie, our lives were made miserable at times by some of those residents: violence, drug dealing, police raids on a frequent basis and other anti-social behaviour that was off the scale.

On the other hand, the overall sense of community was great and 99% of residents were absolutely fine. It only takes a few idiots to give an entire block/area a bad name. My kids also miss playing out with all the children from the estate which was a massive plus for me as I could send them out for hours and see them playing from my window.

You will always find people who are snobbish about social housing. I'm currently buying a house and during one viewing an EA said the property was in a good location "despite the council estate nearby". If this flat works for you (and I also recommend going to just walk about nearby at different times of the day/evening and weekends) then go for it.

DaisyNGO · 08/11/2021 12:49

It's gone to a bidding war so redundant now.,

Thanks for the thoughts.

OP posts:
earsup · 08/11/2021 17:31

years ago i had a key worker rented flat...it was stunning...had the roof to ourselves....but....lady below was on the game and dealing....just years of noise and police visits....awful....after we complained for years about her, the HA offered us houses up the road....they just didnt seem to want to deal with the nuisance tenant....madness....i moved out and bought years ago....

starpatch · 08/11/2021 19:25

I had a shared ownership flat for 10 years on a very similar estate in London. My flat was overlooking the road too. I really liked the mix in the estate, really missed it when we left. The shared ownership element all tended to be people at a similar time of life moving in, having their babies etc and I made lots of friends there. It was just generally an estate where people would stop and chat. One of the great things about it was that there was a playground in the middle though, so all the kids played together and the adults made connections too. I have to say the wholly social housing blocks were definitely rougher- a few social problems, but wouldn't put me off buying personally.

starpatch · 08/11/2021 19:25

Oh sorry about the bidding war.

OrcharD14 · 08/11/2021 23:18

I’m sorry to say that I’d steer clear of HA, due to some of the problematic tenants that they choose to house & then refuse to evict, when they cause havoc. In my opinion, social housing should be the preserve of law-abiding citizens, particularly when housing is in such short supply. Key worker & shared ownership will be fine, as these people will be hard- working & not leading chaotic lives. I acknowledge that the majority of social housing tenants are fine , but if you’re buying it’s a big risk to take. I have a friend who works in housing & she said that housing associations are being forced to house the more problematic tenants, who have alcohol & addiction issues & funding has been decimated.

Nat6999 · 10/11/2021 03:33

I live in a block of council & ex council flats, I could buy mine for £26k with right to buy but no chance, I have the local drug dealer next door, an alcoholic who causes mayhem two floors above, the flat above mine is private rented, I had a prostitute living & working out of it for five years. There was a murder at the other end of the block four years ago, a man strangled & stabbed his partner & dumped her body in the shower. I've been woken up by armed police raiding the drug dealers flat, I'm desperate to get out.

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