Is this an ex-council house?

[DogLover20]

I don't know how to identify them? Just came across it on RM, within budget (expensive!), I dislike the look of it outside but it's gorgeous inside, very spacious, newly refurbished, a lot of light. Am I just being a snob or is this not a desirable looking house? I am not from the UK and am quite set on a Victorian terraced with bay-windows as my "dream home" (first time buyer), however I came across a few of these and they seem much more beautiful inside.

Go down to the map on the listing and click on Streetview to check the road, like I just did.

It seems to me to be all private development, a lot of inter war semis with 60s and 70s infill. On the same side of the road, after the 60s detached house, there is even a short Victorian / Edwardian terrace of substantial three storey houses.

The OP isn’t being snobby.

I wouldn’t buy a council house because I believe in social housing, which isn’t what the thread is about.

Name calling isn’t helpful.

I don't think that's a Council home no.

And depending on when it was built and what building regs were in force at the time, describing that attic room as a "bedroom" may be illegal, it certainly doesn't meet modern building regs and if built today would have to be marketed as a 2 bedroom house with attic room that is only suitable as a study or den, not as sleeping accommodation as it wouldn't be able to meet minimum safety standards in the event of a house fire. I wouldn't buy it.

For anything built between 1920ish and 2000ish council houses are going to be better built, more sturdy construction and lower maintenance than anything that was built for private ownership. House building in the 20th Century was typically wooden frame, poor insulation, terrible transmission of noise and small rooms with minimal storage. The main issue with Council would be if it was part of a vast development of "sink estate" housing with poor local facilities, but that house looks like it's part of a mixed area with lots of different kinds of housing, so that bit wouldn't matter. More recent new-builds may have been built to better standards in terms of energy efficiency and noise insulation due to more stringent building code regulations but will still have tiny rooms and terrible storage.

We have lived in two similar properties. (Wood clad upper storey). The first one was a council rental, the second one we bought. So no, you can’t tell.

My old house was a 1930s council house. Good built and big rooms

It's an end of terrace (a terrace is houses joined together on both sides) . the ground floor layout is called "open plan.".

The way the houses are staggered suggests p[rivate architect design NOT council housing; they've been built by a developer for sale.

Don't reject good quality homes of council origin; back in the hey day of post war building , social housing had to meet a national set of building control standards ( for plot and room sizes , storage and facilities), which were higher than those used by many private developers of the same period .
Council houses tended to be slightly bigger and more solidly built.

The majority of houses near us that are "ex-council" are on estates that are now nearly all privately owned now. Most social housing round here seems to be in newer estates.

I would just recommend driving around at different times of the week - Friday and Saturday evenings, during the weekend, during the week, and getting a feel for the place.

I used to live in an ex-council house and the family next door had 3 small children. When they were in the garden they were so, so noisy (not intrusively so, just 3 young kids playing enthusiastically). Inside the house we couldn't hear a thing.

My friend now lives in a similar house with her 3 young children and her neighbour can't hear anything either.

Council houses from the 1950s are sturdy and very well sound proofed, so I wouldn't dismiss them without taking a look at the area.

House looks lovely. Very 70s

Definitely 70’s and not council built , they have made an excellent job of renovating it , it’s a lovely house .

They specifically said ex-council house, so yes, they are. How would anyone buying a privately owned home which used to be a council house affect current social housing?

@Sweetchillidumplings
Where does it say it’s ex Council? Doesn’t look like it to me.

@DogLover20
In this area, Elmbridge council has a housing interview. I have attached the comments for this area, 06. They do not mention Council. My view is that they were not. Windows too big and cladding would be unusual. Mrs Thatcher’s policies allowed council houses to be sold in the 1980s. The sales receipts could not be reinvested by local authorities into housing. Therefore Housing Associations were established to build homes for rent. Any ex council house for sale built to Parker Morris standards is pre 1980 as a general rule.

So if you want this area look at the history and neighbourhood plans to see what’s ex Council. If you want Victorian, they won’t be ex Council. Edwardian might be. The big push for Council homes came as “Homes for Hero’s” in the 1920s. Men returned from the First World War needed homes. So houses from the early 1920s might be ex Council but often these were not big estates. They mostly came from 1945 onwards.

Housing interview!!! Housing overview!

Victorian terraces are badly insulated and prone to susidence and damp

I’m in the minority here as I think it could be ex-council because I have seen similar (council) houses in a lovely close in London.

Agree. Where I live, the ex-council houses are the only decently built ones! They're all early 20th century. They are easily the most desired houses in the area.

It’s detached brick house probs from the 70’s.
Many advantages to detached as no immediate neighbour attached to your wall.
You sound like you know what you want though so maybe best to keep looking.

This isn’t a council house but most are privately owned now and usually well built and solid from the days when they didn’t take money-saving shortcuts.

DH grew up in a house of this general style, which was a council house. It was flat roofed until the council renovated them, though, including replacing very soft brick that was easily outlasted by the mortar with some more substantial brick. He grew up in a nearby newtown so nothing there was traditional redbrick, apart from the villages that were incorporated into the town. Most of the ex council houses outside of the town are redbrick, save the odd few.

The key is to look at the wider neighbourhood. This house is lovely (though I'm wondering how they get away with calling the loft room with no doors a bedroom) and there will no doubt be other lovely houses nearby but is the street it's in and the surrounding area clean and tidy or do the majority of the houses look shabby, badly maintained or even abused. (There will always be a few badly maintained houses, even in a relatively good area but that can be a sign that the residents are too old and/or in poor health, rather than simply don't care)

I don’t think it’s an attractive house sorry. Very 60s/70s and IME those types of houses tend to be on estates which can end up looking quite run down.

Gorgeous 70’s house. I grew up in similar and it was always full of light. They are very popular again at the moment having fallen out of favour for a while.

If you want to know then the best thing is to ask the estate agents. I live in an ex council house and the garden is huge which is one of the best things about it (and was wonderful during lockdown).

I’m in an ex council house. No amount of me not buying it would turn it back into a council property again.

How’s this for an ex council house? They are blinking massive compared to what they are building now, and sell very easily. I love the era it reminds me of my childhood. https://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/62048750/

@ Zipettydooda · Today 13:56
It’s detached brick house probs from the 70’s.

Look at the picture; or even read the advert. It's very clearly an end of terrace house. Not detached.

It's a 60/70s house. I live in one!

They are often on quiet, purpose built estates - brilliant.

Not the most grand or beautiful, but well built and good proportions.

Also a good way to buy a good (but unfashionable) house in a great area.

Am I completely alone in not giving a shit what the outside of my house looks like as long as I like the inside and the size/layout/location works for me & my family?