Affordable Housing as neighbours - any experiences?
Discussion
At the moment myself and Mrs TT are looking for a new house, and have come across a new-build in a decent area. Lots of space, decent garden, good spec and seemingly well built - smiles all round.
Only problem is that next door (on both sides) is Affordable Housing. Now I know that this is to be expected on all new developments these days, but it is getting me a little concerned. First off I thought it will be fine as they own the property, therefore they should be 'house-proud' and not your normal level of 'council-property' tenants, but looking at the figures on ourproperty.co.uk it would seem they only own 25%. So for a £400k house they are paying £100k...
Now I am not a snob, genuinely, but can anyone on PH tell me of some experiences that will put my mind to rest. Neighbours are neighbours, you always run the risk of getting bad ones regardless of the price and location of property, but am I wrong to be thinking more worldly about this?
Also, once someone on the Affordable Housing Scheme wants to sell is it guarranteed that it will be sold to people in a similar position? Or is there a risk that council tenants being moved in? Again, I am sure that most council tenants are respectable and I shouldn't be looking to the tabloids sensationalism but I am sure you all understand what I am saying!
Any comments on resale gratefully received too.
Thanks, Tony
Only problem is that next door (on both sides) is Affordable Housing. Now I know that this is to be expected on all new developments these days, but it is getting me a little concerned. First off I thought it will be fine as they own the property, therefore they should be 'house-proud' and not your normal level of 'council-property' tenants, but looking at the figures on ourproperty.co.uk it would seem they only own 25%. So for a £400k house they are paying £100k...
Now I am not a snob, genuinely, but can anyone on PH tell me of some experiences that will put my mind to rest. Neighbours are neighbours, you always run the risk of getting bad ones regardless of the price and location of property, but am I wrong to be thinking more worldly about this?
Also, once someone on the Affordable Housing Scheme wants to sell is it guarranteed that it will be sold to people in a similar position? Or is there a risk that council tenants being moved in? Again, I am sure that most council tenants are respectable and I shouldn't be looking to the tabloids sensationalism but I am sure you all understand what I am saying!
Any comments on resale gratefully received too.
Thanks, Tony
My experiences will only paint a bad picture of those who inhabit 'affordable housing.'
I rented a 1st floor flat in a new development. The family below me played loud music all hours of the day and night - somtimes starting at 2am going through until 5am. They also smoked an awful lot of ganja. When they smoked, they would, instead of going outside, go up stairs to the second floor and smoke in the communal stair well leaving cigarette and blunts butts everywhere.
The threw the door seperating their flat front door and the communal hallway open so hard that it left a f
king great hole in the plasterboard.
One day I came home from work to find them being carted away in a police van, I had no idea what had happened. I never heard or saw from that family again after that incident and moved out shortly after the next lot moved in. I was told upon moving out by my landlord that a number of people had moved in to the flat below me over the period that the landlord had owned the property.
You are house proud, or at the very least would like to look after your property and the area immediately surrounding it as a home owner. My experience of affordable housing (not just my own story above) tells me that your neighbours wont.
I now live in a house where my neighbours on both sides own the property and we all do our upmost to get on with one another. I would not go back to living next door to an affordable housing property, certainly not if I had a vested interest (IE i was buying).
I don't mean to tar everyone with the same brush, but still...
I rented a 1st floor flat in a new development. The family below me played loud music all hours of the day and night - somtimes starting at 2am going through until 5am. They also smoked an awful lot of ganja. When they smoked, they would, instead of going outside, go up stairs to the second floor and smoke in the communal stair well leaving cigarette and blunts butts everywhere.
The threw the door seperating their flat front door and the communal hallway open so hard that it left a f
king great hole in the plasterboard.One day I came home from work to find them being carted away in a police van, I had no idea what had happened. I never heard or saw from that family again after that incident and moved out shortly after the next lot moved in. I was told upon moving out by my landlord that a number of people had moved in to the flat below me over the period that the landlord had owned the property.
You are house proud, or at the very least would like to look after your property and the area immediately surrounding it as a home owner. My experience of affordable housing (not just my own story above) tells me that your neighbours wont.
I now live in a house where my neighbours on both sides own the property and we all do our upmost to get on with one another. I would not go back to living next door to an affordable housing property, certainly not if I had a vested interest (IE i was buying).
I don't mean to tar everyone with the same brush, but still...
I inhabit affordable housing.
As do both my neighbours.
The problems we have are with the privately rented properties. Nobody vets them before they move in, the landlords don't give a toss. There are cop cars there all hours of day and night and ferrel kids pulling up trees on the shared "village green".
Meanwhile to get into affordable housing I have to provide 2 references, prove I could afford the rent, promise not to cause trouble or they would kick me out etc etc.
I'd sooner live next to a housing association property than a privately rented one...
Part rent part buy also means they have to prove to a mortgage lender that they can afford to pay the mortgage etc etc.
The occupier can purchase further chinks of the hose over time. And most do around here. So when the house is sold it may well be as a 100% owned freehold. I'm waiting for the prices to bottom out before buying the other 1/2 of mine for example.
As do both my neighbours.
The problems we have are with the privately rented properties. Nobody vets them before they move in, the landlords don't give a toss. There are cop cars there all hours of day and night and ferrel kids pulling up trees on the shared "village green".
Meanwhile to get into affordable housing I have to provide 2 references, prove I could afford the rent, promise not to cause trouble or they would kick me out etc etc.
I'd sooner live next to a housing association property than a privately rented one...
Part rent part buy also means they have to prove to a mortgage lender that they can afford to pay the mortgage etc etc.
The occupier can purchase further chinks of the hose over time. And most do around here. So when the house is sold it may well be as a 100% owned freehold. I'm waiting for the prices to bottom out before buying the other 1/2 of mine for example.
Edited by Munter on Friday 4th February 15:45
I would have thought (or at least hoped) that the rent they would have to pay on the remaining 75% (or 300K) would offer you some hope of them being at least half decent, that said its friday and I am in a "glass is half full" kind of mood 
Are there peopel already living in them, if so, you could always knock on their door and ask them about the area, would be a good way of seeing what first impression they make, also tell you estate agent face to face, that your about to speak to the neighbours and see what his face tells you.
Good luck
Are there peopel already living in them, if so, you could always knock on their door and ask them about the area, would be a good way of seeing what first impression they make, also tell you estate agent face to face, that your about to speak to the neighbours and see what his face tells you.
Good luck
Busamav said:
Those affordable houses could also be taken up by housing associations.
Run away imho, there will be a better house along in a moment..
Our neighbouring property was bought by a housing association, first neighbours were nice enough, then they moved & second neighbour is a nightmare. Rubbish everywhere, noise, police being called you name it, we have access through their garden too, its awful.Run away imho, there will be a better house along in a moment..
I'm currently in conversation with the Spectrum Housing Group regarding legal action over the subject.
Busamav said:
Those affordable houses could also be taken up by housing associations.
Run away imho , there will be a better house along in a moment..
The price of the house as stated is £400k. If anybody moving in needs to buy 25% that's a £100k mortgage they'll have to get. And the housing association will pick up the other £300k.Run away imho , there will be a better house along in a moment..
In order to get a £100k mortgage at the moment a deposit of what?.. £15k - 20K will be required at the moment. Are you suggesting that the sort of people who can prove their employment status, prove their ability to pay a 15K deposit, prove their ability to pay the £100k mortgage payments, and prove they can afford the rent on the other 2/3rds (say £400 a month). Are the sort of people you wouldn't like to live next to?
You could end up living next to a private tenant where the management company don't care if the tenant is a poor tenant so long as some money comes in, and the property owner is in Japan so he doesn't care either if the garden is full of old fridges?
NoNeed said:
The easy way to find out is to knock the door introduce yourself explain you are thinking of buying and ask about the neighbourhood, schools and amenities.
you should learn enough to help you decide.
+1 disguised investigation you should learn enough to help you decide.
I have heard mixed stories of nightmare neighbours and perfectly decent ones in affordable housing. Which of course can be said of ANY neighbours!
I'd try to suss them out first. As someone earlier said, private rental neighbours are MUCH worse in my personal experience. Bear in mind that affordable housing is still a purchase of a house, not some DSS style crack den.
KenBlocksPants said:
NoNeed said:
The easy way to find out is to knock the door introduce yourself explain you are thinking of buying and ask about the neighbourhood, schools and amenities.
you should learn enough to help you decide.
+1 disguised investigation you should learn enough to help you decide.
I have heard mixed stories of nightmare neighbours and perfectly decent ones in affordable housing. Which of course can be said of ANY neighbours!
I'd try to suss them out first. As someone earlier said, private rental neighbours are MUCH worse in my personal experience. Bear in mind that affordable housing is still a purchase of a house, not some DSS style crack den.
I will be popping around to say hello to the neighbours, and similary I will visit at various times across the day to get a feel for the place.
Munter - no offence meant, I want both sides and value what you say.
Munter said:
The price of the house as stated is £400k. If anybody moving in needs to buy 25% that's a £100k mortgage they'll have to get. And the housing association will pick up the other £300k.
In order to get a £100k mortgage at the moment a deposit of what?.. £15k - 20K will be required at the moment. Are you suggesting that the sort of people who can prove their employment status, prove their ability to pay a 15K deposit, prove their ability to pay the £100k mortgage payments, and prove they can afford the rent on the other 2/3rds (say £400 a month). Are the sort of people you wouldn't like to live next to?
You could end up living next to a private tenant where the management company don't care if the tenant is a poor tenant so long as some money comes in, and the property owner is in Japan so he doesn't care either if the garden is full of old fridges?
Your justification , to yourself is all well and good ,best of luck with your choice .In order to get a £100k mortgage at the moment a deposit of what?.. £15k - 20K will be required at the moment. Are you suggesting that the sort of people who can prove their employment status, prove their ability to pay a 15K deposit, prove their ability to pay the £100k mortgage payments, and prove they can afford the rent on the other 2/3rds (say £400 a month). Are the sort of people you wouldn't like to live next to?
You could end up living next to a private tenant where the management company don't care if the tenant is a poor tenant so long as some money comes in, and the property owner is in Japan so he doesn't care either if the garden is full of old fridges?
I merely stated that I wouldn't be prepared to take such a risk.
A housing association could just as easily drop a family in need, in to that property .
Why take such a risk , unless the property is suitably priced to make it worth a gamble .
The OP is obviously concerned at the potential problems , and also must realise that he will find the same when trying to sell such a blighted property.
TallTony said:
Munter - no offence meant, I want both sides and value what you say.
No worries. I agree with the guys suggesting "ask the people living there/nextdoor".Bit tricky when I did it as they were mostly empty new builds. But I was quite happy to talk to the people who knocked on my door asking about the house/street as they wanted to buy next door.
Busamav said:
A housing association could just as easily drop a family in need, in to that property .
No they cant. Not if they are part rent/part buy as described by the OP. Well only if the family can show they are employed, generate references, raise the £15k (or whatever is required) deposit and get a mortgage company to give them the cash for the bit they are buying. Not many "families in need" as you put it have got that ability.
Different if they are rentals. But they can't force people to get a mortgage on those houses...
Munter said:
No they cant. Not if they are part rent/part buy as described by the OP.
Well only if .
so the real answer is yes they can Well only if .
If the housing association own the properties and they are struggling to get takers on the buy in , they have only one other option to leaving it empty.
Busamav said:
so the real answer is yes they can
If the housing association own the properties and they are struggling to get takers on the buy in , they have only one other option to leaving it empty.
But they don't own the building....they only own a share of the building. If the housing association own the properties and they are struggling to get takers on the buy in , they have only one other option to leaving it empty.
They would either have to get the permission of the current occupant. Who'll probably refuse as they are there. Or the Mortgage company if the previous occupant has defaulted. Who are unlikely to say "Yeah sure you just move someone in...no we don't want any cash...you just let them squat on our property."
^ I fully agree with the point above this one.
We lived in a small (25 property) development 4 years ago, and 5 of the properties were supposedly for subsidised housing. All fine for the first year, with the people who were living there all decent folk, looking after their property/kids and the atmosphere was good.
However, one woman ( a serial slag/careless with contraception) moved in with her 4 kids (all from different father's)and thats when it all went downhill.
The oldest child (who was 11) started bunking off school, hanging round with kids 3 or 4 years his age, and before you knew it, was breaking into my neighbours shed, kicking down his fence and being a general arse.
Police got involved, but couldn't really do much about it.
What was really heart breaking was that my neighbour lived there with his wife and they had really loved the 4 bed house when they moved in, he worked hard and was off to work early (6am) and came home after work around 7pm every night just so he could afford to live where he did and pay the mortgage.
That woman who had no job, and her 4 kids, (all supported by the tax paying public), completley runined that families life who worked so hard to own their own property.
We have since sold our house there and were fortunate enough to move into a house situated on a private drive with just one other house on it which is privatley owned.
As I said previously, all the other tennats were fine , but it only takes 1 (who was moved in by the housing association) to really spoil it for you. She managed to ruin it for everyone
We lived in a small (25 property) development 4 years ago, and 5 of the properties were supposedly for subsidised housing. All fine for the first year, with the people who were living there all decent folk, looking after their property/kids and the atmosphere was good.
However, one woman ( a serial slag/careless with contraception) moved in with her 4 kids (all from different father's)and thats when it all went downhill.
The oldest child (who was 11) started bunking off school, hanging round with kids 3 or 4 years his age, and before you knew it, was breaking into my neighbours shed, kicking down his fence and being a general arse.
Police got involved, but couldn't really do much about it.
What was really heart breaking was that my neighbour lived there with his wife and they had really loved the 4 bed house when they moved in, he worked hard and was off to work early (6am) and came home after work around 7pm every night just so he could afford to live where he did and pay the mortgage.
That woman who had no job, and her 4 kids, (all supported by the tax paying public), completley runined that families life who worked so hard to own their own property.
We have since sold our house there and were fortunate enough to move into a house situated on a private drive with just one other house on it which is privatley owned.
As I said previously, all the other tennats were fine , but it only takes 1 (who was moved in by the housing association) to really spoil it for you. She managed to ruin it for everyone
My first property was ex-council - it was the best i could afford but never again. TBH they weren't the worst neighbours i have had by a long shot, but boy was i glad to get rid of the property. After some detailed analysis, i have come to the conclusion that with private property a new neighbour is usually a better neighbour whereas with council stuff it's a toss of the coin. Of course, living next to a private property which is let out can also become a nightmare.
Munter said:
But they don't own the building....they only own a share of the building.
They would either have to get the permission of the current occupant. Who'll probably refuse as they are there. Or the Mortgage company if the previous occupant has defaulted. Who are unlikely to say "Yeah sure you just move someone in...no we don't want any cash...you just let them squat on our property."
when I click my fingers .............. They would either have to get the permission of the current occupant. Who'll probably refuse as they are there. Or the Mortgage company if the previous occupant has defaulted. Who are unlikely to say "Yeah sure you just move someone in...no we don't want any cash...you just let them squat on our property."
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