Southwark Council - buying

[Lenka.Z]

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone is well. I have a question to fellow residence has anyone tried to buy a flat that is owned by Southwark council and has a tenant in it but the tenant is not a sitting tenant? Basically we own a maisonette and we would be interested in buying the studio that is above us so once day we can convert the house back. Has anyone done it ? And if, could you please give me any tips etc?

As a leaseholder, I know Southwark council has no customer service whatsoever and to get an answers to a simpler questions is very difficult so I thought I'll check with you all first before I approach council. I know it will be very long and painful process :)!

thank you for all your help and advice

Regards

Lenka

[Angelina]

I don't believe the council are in the process of selling council property to private buyers - if anything they will sell to tenants or keep their stock to house the vulnerable.

[Lenka.Z]

Hmmm that is a shame as we would be happy to rent to our to council for some time....but thank you for your response.

If anyone else has any experience with this more comments would be much appreciated!!!

[Blah Blah]

Yes, only a council tenant can buy the council property through RTB. The council will say no to your request to buy.

It would be a bit like someone knocking on your door and saying, I like the look of your house, sell it to me! You'd say no, so why do you think you even have the right to ask the council to sell any property they own to you?

[Jeremy]

Strong words Blah Blah... there's no law against such unsolicited offers. But I'd be amazed if they actually considered it.

[Lenka.Z]

Thanks Jeremy.... I would actually sell Blah Blah if someone knocked on my door and gave me a good offer...saves me agents fees as well.... Council could actually use the money to put it into their new investment homes or into their departments to improve their services and procedures, perhaps hire more people so they can deal with everything more efficiently and with better customer service!!

[Blah Blah]

Strong words yes, but given that homes sold under RTB haven't been replaced and people needing those homes have increased I'm just baffled that anyone would think the council should sell them one of those homes so that they can extend theirs!

I don't mean to offend Lenka, but Southwark currently has a waiting list of 15,000. Every home is needed and Southwark are building new homes. But Jeremy is right, you can make a request, but it's unlikely Southwark will sell.

[nxjen]

I think there are instances where Southwark Council do sell, not just as RTB, but in non estate locations where the properties are below current standards required and would cost a fortune to bring up to that standard. For instance, there was that large house in Bankside, the one with the Courage logo on the side, that was sold amidst huge outcry but made economic sense to the Council. Have you been in touch with the Council, or maybe your local councillor to clarify the situation? I think though it's unlikely the Council will sell, at least I hope so, with an existing tenant whether they're a sitting tenant or not. Should like to add I'm very much against RTB, don't get me started.

[edhistory]

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200018/property/951/properties_for_sale