The council buying your house?

[Beanmistriss]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but here goes. My friend had an arrangment made by the court that when her youngest child with her ex reaches 18 then she has to give him the money that he still has in their house. However she has not been very responsible (in and out of work, now has a baby by someone else who isnt around etc) The money is due to be paid in about 6 months and I think its highly unlikely that she'll be able to remortgage as she has been threatned twice with repossession for being in arrears. She also has a very poor credit history - she cant get a credit card or mobile contract even. Anyway what shes thinking is that she will get the council to buy her house (it is an ex council house), pay off what she owes and then just rent the house back from the council. I think its under the new thing the govenrment came up with recently. I thought that was just for people who had been made redundant because of the recent troubles? Shes not going back to work after having her baby so shes not been made redundant. Is this something that the council are likely to do? Cheers :o)

[buildersmate]

Some councils do it. Some councils don't have council houses any more and the whole lot is run by social landlords (housing associations). You will have to ask the specific council where you live what arrangements apply.

[Ethel]

Lambeth Council do:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/3C457554-6 6B9-4259-9167-8940C4D08365.htm

The rub is in the last bit.
They pay the same amount as you bought it for. So you bought it for 10k for 20 years ago - that is all you get. The mortgage could be more.

What council does she live in?

[Beanmistriss]

Thanks to you both for responding. She lives under Bromley Council. The house was bought about 12 years ago I think so would be worth quite a bit more now than they paid for it.

[Beanmistriss]

I have checked their site and their houses are all run by housing association. Does that mean that this plan is not an option then or would a housing assossiation do a similar type of thing? I cant see a mention of it on the housing assocition site either

[buildersmate]

You are going to have to contact the HA.
You probably discovered the same as me - all council houses in the London Borought of Bromley were transferred to Broomleigh Housing Association who now run them.
I think that it is unlikely however it is the only place to try.
http://www.broomleigh.org.uk/Our%20Homes

[Beanmistriss]

Thanks very much :o)