Many of us live in council houses and have done for many years and as time goes by we might want to consider buying a home depending on how our circumstances have changed. To this end many families are now considering their rights to buy the council houses in which they live as these are often much cheaper than other houses to buy and in the long term it means they do not have to move or have the hassle of searching for somewhere else to live.
Can I Buy My Council House?
The answer to this is yes you can; the Right to Buy allows most council tenants to buy their council home at a discount. However, there are different rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If I Buy My Council House Will It Be Cheaper?
Most certainly but you need to check with your local authority before making any definite moves to buy your property. The current discounts offered are; 35% if you’ve been a public sector housing tenant and 50% if you have been a tenant of a flat, for between 3 and 5 years. After 5 years, the discount goes up by 1% for every extra year you’ve been a public sector housing tenant (2% flat), up to a maximum of 70%. However, you’ll usually have to repay some or all your discount if you sell your home within 5 years.
How Do I Exercise My Right to Buy?
First off you should contact your local authority and make arrangements to speak with the housing officer who will give you all the details of how to go about buying your home. The local authority will tell you once you have a decision as to exactly how much they are asking for your property. You will have an allotted period of time to set everything in motion and it is recommended that you have a solicitor already prepared to assist you in purchasing your property.
You should be aware however that there are certain conditions attached to you buying your home.
Conditions laid down by the Local Council
Your local council will include certain clauses into any contract you enter into with them, the main one being that if you wish to sell the property within ten years of purchasing it from them that they are given first refusal. In other words you cannot sell the property to anyone other than the council within ten years of buying the house. This may sound limiting but the likelihood is you won’t want to sell your house within that time scale anyway given that most individuals who buy their council homes have lived in them for a long period of time already.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Can My Local Council Refuse to Sell Me my Council House?
Sadly yes they can and this is normally for reasons of debt or bankruptcy. If you have been declared bankrupt or are about to be declared bankrupt then the local authority may refuse to sell the property to you on the basis that you are a high risk. This can sometimes lead to a refusal for a mortgage and therefore can leave the council in the throes of a sale that cannot be completed. Likewise if you have had court proceedings instigated against you at another property ordering you to leave the local authority can refuse to sell the house to you.
You have three months from the time you enter into the buying of a house to complete the sale, if you have not completed by this time the local authority can refuse to sell you the property and pull out of any negotiations. Unfortunately that is their right just as it is yours. Once the three month period has expired the local authority can either give you more time to make the relevant arrangements or they can simply decide to negate any offers of purchase prices or discounts. You should be aware that if this is the case then the period in which you were eligible for discount can be returned to zero and you will have to wait another five years to try again.
What to Do First
Before entering into any firm agreements you should speak to your housing officer and find out from them how much the council would reasonably expect for the house you currently occupy. At this point you can then apply for a mortgage; there are many organisations specialising in mortgages for right-to-buy tenants and they can be found in your local Yellow Pages or business directory.
I am just wondering are council houses valued cheaper than average market value.
I have looked at other properties that have sold in the same postcode and they are a little out of my budget after my discounts have been applied hence why I'm wondering if the council value their properties any cheaper than say your neighbour who is privately selling.
Thank you.
My Name is James and I am a Mortgage Adviser who takes great pride in providing right to buy mortgages. If you have any questions regarding buying your home you can find me on Facebook "mortgages by James" where my contact details are for any enquiries.
WILL I BE ABLE TO RENT MY HOUSE OUT TO OTHER TENANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE AREA FOR WORK - OR WILL I HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE BACK TO THE COUNCIL?
IN THIS RESPECT, DO DIFFERENT COUNCILS HAVE DIFFERENT RULES ON THIS? MY HOUSE IS IN CORNWALL.
All the best houses are now bought up causing "sink estates" in many areas. Unscrupulous deals between businesses and tenants goes unchallenged. More and more people become homeless because private renting is too expensive, and they want to take up more green belt to build more social housing on. In another hundred years our Green and Pleasant Land will have disappeared, but HEY don't worry you will at least own your own house!!
Where does this leave us now ?
Do we just leave ?
Do we get any discount to take with us as we are not council ?
We was in a council flat for 2 year then a 3 bed council house for 5 year before exchanging to a housing association but we don’t want to just give up and leave , is there anything we can do ?
What would my discount be?
Plus, please explain 'First Time Buyers' Pros and Cons.
Thanks
My grandpa has rented a council house for 51 years and my house as been a big part of the family.
It's a semi detached 3 bed house near a cemetery in Manchester. At the moment I am 18 therefore not read to buy but in the future would like to buy it with my grandads permission. My grandad and auntie Alison with downsyndrome lives their and which in the future I will be their carers. My career path is promising and in the mean time will be saving. I would really like to know how do i buy a property, how much I should be earning by that point, will there be a discounted price and how much potentially my house could be worth. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but would like to be prepared as possible.
Thankyou in advance
I’m an ex serviceman of 7 years and work full time?
Getting a mortgage.
I have seen a couple of people asking if they can buy a Council property that they have never lived in, because A) their Grandmother lives there and B) I want it as an investment for my children's future.
Are you two serious ?
You obviously know that you aren't legally allowed, or you would be going to the Council to ask. As touched upon in one of your messages, 'a way around this'...
These properties are for the HOMELESS and not for people like you, to make a quick few quid.
Your Mother-in-law will not be booted out, with nowhere to go, as you are probably, fully aware. I'm assuming she is on the Tenancy...if not, then she could be added.
Reset align your moral compasses...
I live in a terrace of three bungalows and some time over the next few years we are looking to buy our property from the local council. However, we have a concern. The property we live in is a one bed bungalow, and forms part of a terrace of three identical properties. Initially we didint have any concerns about buying as the property next door to us was bought by the former tennant, from the local council. However,
When we spoke to the tennant we ascertained that the only was the person next door was able to buy their property was to take the local council to court as they initially refused to sell her the property on the grounds that the property was to be kept for elderly people. She obviously won, and was able to buy.
However, could that persons sucess mean things would be OK for us, or could we have the same problems? Surly the fact that we have a owner next, would be mean they couldnt refuse to sell to us! Has anyone got any advice or experiance on this matter.
Phil.
Thankyou!
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