Restrictions on ex-council properties?

[estebancolberto]

We are planning to buy a 3 bed terraced ex-council house. Are there any typical restrictions or covenants that we should be aware of? For example, we cannot rent it or AirBnB it or alter it or something other restrictions that we should typically check?

Covenants will be listed on the title. Typical covenants are around e.g. not parking commercial vehicles or caravans on the driveway, maximum number of animals which can be kept on the premises, not running a business from the property. If it’s freehold it’s unlikely there will be a clause about AirB&B or internal alterations.

@ComtesseDeSpair Thanks, what about a hypothetical situation where you are supplying food through Uber Eats or Deliveroo by allowing delivery drivers to pickup from your house? Does that come under running business from the property?

Your solicitor should tell you, that's what you pay them for!

We lived in an ex authority house for 18 years, recently sold it & the buyers solicitor raised that there was a covenant on the deeds when it was originally bought from the council that we had to allow the council access to check on services or something, like, whenever they wanted.
They never did & we never knew about it until we sold it!! I'd get your solicitor to look at the deeds but ask specifically, because ours was obviously rubbish back then because as I said, we never knew about this clause.

As said the deeds should tell all and your solicitor should do searches that reveal anything, 'hopefully'. If you have a particular concern ask your solicitor at least then if they are wrong you have a come back.

your neighbours might object if you cooking food and selling it from your house. check carefully.

Some mortgage lenders won't lend on ex-council as I found out very late down the line necessitating a more expensive rate.