Southwark council street property - please help!

[Girl82]

I am hoping to buy a Victorian conversion flat and have been doing some research into neighbouring properties. It turns out that one of the houses next door is owned by Southwark Council, but when I looked on the council's list of street properties (here: http://tiny.cc/southwark) this address was not on there.

Does anyone know what that means? I'm just a bit concerned because if it's not listed as a street property, I'm wondering what the council does use it for. I don't want to unwittingly move next door to a hostel or something of that sort! Looking at the property from the outside, it does appear to be residential!

[the-e-dealer]

Knock and ask?

[the-e-dealer]

is it in Balchier Road?

[Girl82]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Knock and ask?

Thanks e-dealer - yes, I could do I suppose!

No, it's not Balchier Road - why? I notice Balchier is included on that spreadsheet of Southwark properties. I'm just confused as to why this one isn't, as it does appear to be residential!

[the-e-dealer]

That link is to a list of properties in an investment program. it doesn't look like a complete list of dispersed properties.

[the-e-dealer]

Also there's no house numbers so what use is it anyway?

[Girl82]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Also there's no house numbers so what use is it

> anyway?

It doesn't really matter about the house numbers in this case, as the street I'm hoping to buy on is not listed at all - suggesting there are no council street properties located there! However, perhaps you're right and that's not a complete list. It would explain it...

[Sue]

Ask the council?

Wait about outside to check out the vile and horrible people who have the nerve to sully the street where you want to buy a flat by living in a hostel (or "something of that sort", whatever that is)?

Seriously, what is the problem with living next door to a hostel?

[James]

Um, perhaps the fact that there might be random scumbags having domestics all hours of the day and night on your doorstep?

[Girl82]

James Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Um, perhaps the fact that there might be random

> scumbags having domestics all hours of the day and

> night on your doorstep?

Exactly, thanks James! I know it might be strange to some, but I want a peaceful life!

[the-e-dealer]

A bit prejudice?

[Sue]

James Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Um, perhaps the fact that there might be random

> scumbags having domestics all hours of the day and

> night on your doorstep?

xxxxxx

So people who live in a hostel or "something of that sort" are likely to be scumbags and/or likely to be "having domestics" on your doorstep?

And your evidence for that is - what, exactly?

Let's hope your personal circumstances never change to a point where the only option for you is to live in a hostel or "something of that sort", Girl82 and James.

[James]

Ridiculous political correctness strikes again. So if you were buying a flat/house, whould you choose one next to a hostel Sue? Don't think so somehow, whatever you say here in the name of being 'right on'.

[Louisa]

Face facts Sue, no one who owns a property wants it to be next to any institution such as a hostel. That's not snobbery, it's just a fact of life. Denying it just comes across as fashionably politically correct - just for the sake of it.

Louisa.

[James Barber]

You've looked at a list of street properties for the Nunhead and Peckham Rye area only. That's only a part of Southwark.

[Earl Aelfheah]

I used to live next door to a hostel for those with addiction problems and its fair to say that whilst many of the residents were pleasant enough, it also contained a fair number of challenging / chaotic individuals. Of course there will be hostels and hostels, but it's not unreasonable to be cautious about who you'll be living next door to when buying a property.

[LondonMix]

Agree 100%.

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Face facts Sue, no one who owns a property wants

> it to be next to any institution such as a hostel.

> That's not snobbery, it's just a fact of life.

> Denying it just comes across as fashionably

> politically correct - just for the sake of it.

>

> Louisa.

[Girl82]

James Barber Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You've looked at a list of street properties for

> the Nunhead and Peckham Rye area only. That's only

> a part of Southwark.

Thanks James - I don't understand why it's not on the list if it's owned by the council and appears to be residential! What could that mean - any idea? Does it mean it could be a hostel or something of that sort, or could it just be that the council simply isn't undertaking any works to that property in the next 5 years?

[the-e-dealer]

Its a list properties needing improvement. If the property doesn't need improvement, is on another list or there isno budget then it won't be on this list.

[Charles Notice]

Girl82 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> James Barber Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > You've looked at a list of street properties

> for

> > the Nunhead and Peckham Rye area only. That's

> only

> > a part of Southwark.

>

>

> Thanks James - I don't understand why it's not on

> the list if it's owned by the council and appears

> to be residential! What could that mean - any

> idea? Does it mean it could be a hostel or

> something of that sort, or could it just be that

> the council simply isn't undertaking any works to

> that property in the next 5 years?

Email gerri.scott @ southwark.gov.uk, head of housing and ask her. Will short cut all this

[the-e-dealer]

Will she deal with all queries re dispersed housing?

[Charles Notice]

If you cannot get an answer she will pass it on to who ever to respond. Her mantra is Customer Service and she enforces it hard.

[Sue]

James Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ridiculous political correctness strikes again. So

> if you were buying a flat/house, whould you choose

> one next to a hostel Sue? Don't think so somehow,

> whatever you say here in the name of being 'right

> on'.

xxxxxxx

Wherever I was looking to buy a flat/house, I would of course check out the neighbouring properties in case of potential problems.

And of course I wouldn't deliberately choose to live somewhere where it was clear that there was going to be anti-social disruption.

I wouldn't, however, assume that just because somewhere was designated as a "hostel" that there would automatically be problems, which seems to be what is being assumed here.

It's not about being "right on", whatever that's supposed to mean.

It's about looking at facts and evidence rather than making assumptions.

[ianr]

> but when I looked on the council's list of street properties

> No, it's not Balchier Road - why?

What you looked at and gave us is a 2011 document apparently cached by Google after a previous search on 'southwark+street+property+"balchier+road"'. It's one of many about Southwark's investment programme that are on the Southwark website itself, at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2773/five_year_housing_investment_programme.

There may be other parts of the Soutwark website that are worth looking at for information about properties in your target street.

[Girl82]

Charles Notice Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you cannot get an answer she will pass it on to

> who ever to respond. Her mantra is Customer

> Service and she enforces it hard.

Oh great, thanks Charles - will drop her an email!