Buying a house..., GRRRR Options

[motormad]

I'm trying to buy a house unfortunately I can only get a mortgage for £129k.

(this is for a single application with a £10k deposit that I've saved up). My requirement is a 1 or 2 bedroom with a garage and driveway in a somewhat decent area. Houses that fit this bill are around £165k

I'm sure if I was with a fit young rich women I wouldn't have on issues but anyway.

I am looking at otherwise buying part-buy part rent scheme. As from what I believe you buy a % of the property and rent the remaining percentage from the council.
My worry is that the house would never be mine, and that the council could in effect boot me out by giving me my % cost back and thus leaving me without a home. I'm aware there would probably be notice periods for such like but I would not like to be in that situation anyway.

I'd also be worried that I couldn't modify the house, you know, lower it, some sick rims brap, some double glazing, maybe an extension, you know..

Does anyone have any experience with these sorts of schemes?
Cheers

[spartacus]

Yes it's basically renting half a house?! As you say it's not what the other party (council) have in mind. Maybe I will be classed as vexatious for wanting to fit double glazing.

tsk tsk...We're moving away from the 'Council House' tag if you don't mind... so down market and trailer trashy. These days it's 'Affordable Housing' through Housing Associations (I don't think WBC own ANY houses now do they?)

My daughter's gone down this route and is perfectly happy with the 50/50 arrangement. Has been living in a brand new 2 bed top floor apartment with two parking spaces (and double glazing!) for around 2 years now, which she would never have been able to afford otherwise. Bank of Mum & Dad stumped up most of the deposit (not that we're trying to force her to flee the nest or anything... ) but she's the envy of her friends, is thoroughly enjoying her independent status and is managing to cope with the bills. With top floor she's maybe benefiting from other flats rising hot air, but her heating bills are minimal (or maybe new apartments are actually delivering on the promise to be energy efficient?), the management fee is pretty small, the new estate she's living in is nice and quiet and I'm quite jealous of her (never had such a big place when I was her age)

She's gone just over the border with Sentinel Housing in Hampshire. As with all new developments (even swanky new ones like Parkway) there has to be a proportion of 'affordable' homes and that's where she slotted in. There's a few new developments in Basingstoke area but they also have some that aren't brand spanking new...

A step on the housing ladder is what's been ingrained to us in this country as a 'must have' but renting is pretty much the norm nearly everywhere in Europe

[HJD]

tsk tsk...We're moving away from the 'Council House' tag if you don't mind... so down market and trailer trashy. These days it's 'Affordable Housing' through Housing Associations (I don't think WBC own ANY houses now do they?)

A step on the housing ladder is what's been ingrained to us in this country as a 'must have' but renting is pretty much the norm nearly everywhere in Europe

I was brought up in a 'Council House' as they were known then & I suspect a large percentage of working class people were before Thatcher persuaded people to take up the right to buy. Most of my friends & relations lived in them ( some still do ) & the proud owners kept them well decorated / gardens cultivated etc. more so than some of the private owners I knew, ( unless they paid for a man to do the work for them, my father being one ! ). Unfortunately the tag 'Council House' these days seems to have the stigma attached as only being available & lived in by Unmarried Mothers or the Unemployed, which is a pity because there are still decent hard working people around who live in them or would probably like to given the chance.

[On the edge]

I was brought up in a 'Council House' as they were known then & I suspect a large percentage of working class people were before Thatcher persuaded people to take up the right to buy. Most of my friends & relations lived in them ( some still do ) & the proud owners kept them well decorated / gardens cultivated etc. more so than some of the private owners I knew, ( unless they paid for a man to do the work for them, my father being one ! ). Unfortunately the tag 'Council House' these days seems to have the stigma attached as only being available & lived in by Unmarried Mothers or the Unemployed, which is a pity because there are still decent hard working people around who live in them or would probably like to given the chance.

Ironic what's happened. Council housing originated to house 'the deserving poor', to lift them out of poor / slum housing. The basic idea being the vacant housing could be taken by the remaining poor. Then, whilst Minister of Health immediately after the war, Bevan was also responsible for housing; his take being that Council Houses should be so good, no one in their right mind would want a private one....then along came Supermac, who reduced the spec. and so the slow decline set in. The concept is great, fair rents, landlord keeps property in good fettle. The trouble is in the name, Council...they simply used their estates as cash cows, failed to do the repairs, failed to manage lettings, failed to keep the design principles. Mrs T just pushed the door the Councils left wide open, an absolute gift to her sponsors in banking!