Can you rent a council house? If so, isit cheaper than renting private? :)?

Question

Me and my partner are having a dilemma about what to do.

We are looking to buy/rent a house but were not sure what to do.

At the moment the choices are - rent a council house, we have heard if you rent a council house for a long time they ask if you want to buy it for a very low price? Not sure if its true?

Or we can rent privately, but we heard that council is a lot cheaper and they will fix things if anything goes wrong or breaks?

Or buy a house, a very small house with a low mortgage, but we would need to save a bit of money for the deposit.

What do you think is the best idea, financially we can afford about 400 a month, but we would rather if we could get somewhere for around 250-300 a month which is why we thought about council.

Any one have an idea what we should do?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

The possibility of your getting a council house as a couple with no children is extremely low although there is nothing to stop you putting your name on the housing list. In most parts of the country there is very little council housing stock and what is available is often given to prioirty cases.



You can look online at your local council website and see what they say.



I presume you are both working.



Buying a small house will also be very difficult as you will need a good deposit. Getting a mortgage these days is difficult although there are schemes to help first time buyers.



I do not know what the rents are like in your area. £400 a month seems low. Have you looked at Rightmove/Gumtree etc to see what you can get for your money?



If you are living at home for the moment (you don't give your ages) then I would sit tight and save some money. Even renting a place will require a deposit and usually one month's rent in advance.



You might like to consider a house share as a couple. This is probably your cheapest option.



Life is tough at the moment and more and more young people are having to live at home before they can save enough money to move out.



Do some research and also do a budget. It is surprising how much everything costs.

Answer 2

Even private landlords are usually responsible for the maintenance of the property.



Yes sometimes you can acquire the right to buy a council house. There is a large demand for council houses and you can ask to go on the waiting list.



Consider contacting Housing Associations

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Councilandhousingassociationhomes/Housingassociationhomes/index.htm





Not being able to support a mortgage can be very stressful. At least if you're renting and should become unemployed or sick you don't have that worry. Also, if there's a chance you might wish to move to another area for a better job, you won't have the issue of maybe selling your home (buying and selling is quite an expensive process - stamp duty, estate agent fees etc).



There are quite a few experts who expect property prices to fall.



It's a personal thing (from experience) but I wouldn't buy a property with a romantic partner unless we first got married. (Just getting engaged counts for little.)

Answer 3

3 Previous answers cover the main points.



It is worth bearing in mind that as well as the long wait for social housing, you usually have little choice where you go.



With private renting you can pick and choose where you want to live.



If you need to move across the country for work or whatever, a council swap can take forever (again with minimal choice). Private renting? With a periodic tenancy you can often be on your way in a month.



Council properties come with NOTHING - no carpets, no curtains. Even 'unfurnished' private lets come with flooring and basic kitchen furniture, often kitchen appliances too.

Answer 4

When you rent a council house you have to put your name down on a list. Then hope for the best. My sister had to wait 5 years and when she needed a two bedroom after having a baby she couldnt get one.

If you can afford to rent priavtely you should, council properies should be for those who can;t. The only people who can get a council property quickly are yuong women who get themselves pregnant and kicked out or drug addicts who have nowhere to live.

It takes ages to get a palce as there as so many people after a house and they dont build them. You might not be allowed to buy a house anymore as they stopped building but have high demand



I was looking into this recently as I am planning on moving in with my other half. He is in a coucnil property and it is rubbish-damp and falling apart- they arn't all like this.

Other options:

-you can claim benefits on certain prtivate rental properties but only if you are entitled to them

-some new housing companies let you rent a house for a year and then buy it. (barrett homes have done this not far from where I live)

-my auntie part bought her house with her local council years ago not sure if yuo can do this still



I imagine if you private rent your landlord has to foot the bill for certain things.

The council don't always repair things in a decent time scale. My Grandparents had ot wait about a year to get their house done. They can;t find contractors or someting. Then people turn up spend all their time in their van. they are called to another job



you could always sign up for a house (in wales we have two agencies who do this) and see if you can get one

Otherwise check out the rental propeties online in your area, you might be able to get something

i'm part time my boyfreind is full time we hope to rent privately - budgt of £400, i'm crossing my fingers.

i still live with my parents i'm going onto 24 now

all the best hope you find something soon

Answer 5

you may prepare to any council to be considered for housing once you've a connection to the realm. this is a role furnish, family individuals, or to furnish/get carry of help to a susceptible individual. if you're prepared to move faraway from the south east and further north, you'll locate an furnish of a house fairly quick. the realm i'd propose for interest is Lincoln. A 2 mattress council domicile lease contained in the city is round £fifty 9 a week. Lincoln is a proper city, very solid shops, pleasant locals and an instantaneous rail link to London in 2008/9( 2 hours). to coach move their information superhighway website and request an software kind.