Please help me find a property under 60k

[beeloubee]

Please help me find a property anywhere in uk for under 60k. Preferably under 40k. One bedroom ground floor flat maybe. Seen some places up north but it seems impossible to do nationwide check on rightmovè

As you know, new style ESA is contribution based so is unaffected by any savings. It is based on NI contributions from 2 years before claiming. I'm on legacy Contributions based ESA and will not be ported over to UC
I am exempt from council tax, but may vary between councils.
In some areas you are exempt because you receive enhanced PIP and/ or the property is adapted for your needs
I believe there are a few posters in the Hartlepool area, so you could post again asking about the area
Please " reach out"( hate that term) for any information as circumstances can be complicated with owning your own property and benefits,
Wishing you well

I tried looking and can't see anything. Seems if you have more than 50k you don't get help even if medical.

Yeah I'm grateful for the new style esa. Because without that I would only be getting 350 a month from pip. I've got divorced. So basically on my own except for a friend but I rather live on my own.

I know hartlepool supposed to be rough but the actual flat looks nice and I don't go out anyway. Just hope the bids don't go too high

You might find this useful OP with regard to shared ownership - the biggie is to look at areas where the allowance on UC will cover the rent/service charges-

mortgagelight.co.uk/blog/minimum-income-for-shared-ownership/

I would say the other option is to pay upfront for 12,months and rent in somewhere you actually like - get your name down then immediately on the local housing list- you will go quite high up the rankings then if you get pip and have the kind of disability you mention for social housing flats- I wouldn't be suprised if you got somewhere within 12 months- but if you are going to do that then you may as well live somewhere you quite like , rather than just anywhere- you can however only apply where you are based 'at that time' - the downside of course is you won't get any UC till you get down to £16k

I was divorced too and could not afford to buy in my previous area but I'm only 10 miles away
I receive enhanced PIP which is most of my income plus £276.40 fortnightly ESAwhich I do manage on, as like you, I don't go out.
From the circumstances you mention, I think you will be eligible for enhanced PIP likely both components so don't be wary about reporting circumstances of your worsening health
It's daunting on your own, but you do sound self reliant and you will find support in any new area I'll just mention Social Prescrbers at a GP surgery
They can be a useful resource, but not everyone has heard of them
Regarding hospitals, James Cook is a major university hospital for the region but I'm not sure if it covers Hartlepool, so do look into that.

Here's a couple of decent rentals that might suit following on from what I said about being in an area you know and like 'if' you then put down for social housing list

One in Devizes, one in Taunton - both perfectly ok places

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155364431#/?channel=RES_LET

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154928261#/?channel=RES_LET

There are a few for sale in this development if you're able to get a retirement flat. Lots in Warminster too x

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155485661

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154917557

Yes was just going to suggest Co.Durham. Bishop Auckland is a town which is coming through difficult times but has some lovely parts, Bishops Palace, mining museum, galleries etc and home of Kynren ( best to Google). Entrepreneur is investing in area. Beautiful countryside. Decent hospital. My cousin moved up from the south and bought a fabulous little house for 67k last year .Good luck with your search

@CrystalCrazyCat unfortunately OP doesn't qualify for an over 55 flat

And even if she did, the management charges as listed would be prohibitive.

@peppeRomia not sure about that £400 monthly service charge is quite common amongst flats of all types- not just retirement or shared ownership - and she is not likely going to find a house in ok condition-

To be honest I'm not sure I would buy in that situation and use up all my cash on something a bit crap - I would be tempted to rent something modest ( I posted a couple at £795 a month in Taunton and Devizes) and get yourself down asap for adapted social housing - whilst it feels like wasting money at least you can get housing allowance when you are down to £16k - don't have to spend money and time making anywhere habitable etc

Scotland? We travel there a lot with my husbands work.
Avoid popular places like Glasgow or Edinburgh or holiday hotspots as they are expensive but if you put in a wider search area on rightmove you will find towns and villages that are cheaper.
Dundee is up and coming. Oban is a very friendly place and we liked Banff and Perth.
Surprising amount of English people in Scotland. Far less traffic out of the major cities too.
The vast majority of properties are freehold so none of the extra ground rent or management fees on flats either.
Properties are mostly listed as offers over but depending on the popularity of a property you may get it for the price listed or less just like in England and you can speak to agents to ask what a seller is likely to accept.
The stories you hear about making an offer being binding in Scotland aren't true.
You can make an offer with a clause in it. We sold a property there and our first buyer put a clause in saying it was subject to them getting a suitable mortgage.
We 'accepted' but not formally (I'm not sure of all the terms used by the solicitor). 3 weeks later the buyers pulled out as they couldn't get the mortgage so we had to remarket. Our next buyers also put a clause in, subject to a satisfactory survey. That sale did go through.
Unlike in England, making the formal offer does have to be put through a solicitor, so if you do pull out you would incur solicitors fees.
If you are interested in Scotland, do a bit of Googling for nice places to live there.
I would avoid going anywhere too rural though as it can be bleak in winter and services can be a good distance away.
All the best with your search.

I really so appreciate how helpful everyone has been. Thank you so much.

I've had some good news today. My pip has increased. That and my esa comes to about £1200 a month. Not a lot I know. And I now have £65,000 in the bank.

I feels like I wouldn't be able to rent because my monthly "income" wouldn't cover expenses. I still have a loan I'm paying off that I took out before I got ill. It's with nationwide, I may ring them and ask if they can help in anyway and reduce my monthly payments. Currently at 267 a month for 5 more years.

What about this one in the SW?

Very short lease (60 years) which is why it is so cheap. But if you are planning on living there for 20-30 years and aren’t fussed about being able to sell it on/make a profit, it could work.

What about this OP in Plymouth - 40% shared ownership resale ground floor at £58,000 but 125 yr lease and nice condition and reasonable rent and service charges at £230 a month in total ( which if you have used all your cash to buy your share means you would be under the limit to be able to claim and probably get paid back as UC ) even though it's shared ownership , as rent and service charges are low I think you would still qualify as don't need a mortgage - worth a punt I think as very tidy

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155106260#/?channel=RES_BUY

Scotland. Lesmahagow south of Glasgow, I nearly bought one of these a few years ago, but bought a house in Douglas instead. I had clients in this village.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154697108#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153672947#/?channel=RES_BUY

That's a great find. Shame it is 65k..that's almost all my money in bank..I could maybe do it if it was 55k but I imagine it would get lots of interest. You are right that the 60 year lease wouldn't be an issue for me.

That's a nice one and I could even move my parents in as it's 2 bedroom. They are renting at the moment.

@beeloubee if you are paying all the quarter share outright though I would make sure it's in your name - especially if they are older -would mean though that they could probably help you with ongoing day to day costs - although I don't believe they can claim UC for rent if sharing with family - but that may not be applicable- honestly lovely I think it's better to have 40% of somewhere 'nice' and fresh than 100% of something really grim given your health situation- I would see if it's a goer!!

@beeloubee the other thing is both bedrooms are proper doubles - although not massive- if not your parents, does mean you could take in the odd student etc if needs be

It’s been on the market for three months, they will likely accept offers.

Loads of houses for under £60k in Cumbria. Areas like Wigton, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Barrow etc often have terraced houses going for that price.

id steer clear of apartments as you don’t want to be at the mercy of service charge increases.

good luck!

We are pretty cheap up here in the north east

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E657&maxPrice=50000&radius=40.0&sortType=1&propertyTypes=flat&includeSSTC=false&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

For flats and maisonettes Washington is usually quite a cheap area like collingwood court etc... Heres a few examples under 40k:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153603266#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150528944#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134817575#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155369468#/?channel=RES_BUY

Not sure if you're still looking, but this one is only £45K, ground floor, has a shared garden and is close to two hospitals.