Buy back plan for Sandwell homes

Monday 29th December 2008, 8:00PM GMT.

CREM 11 DH 1A groundbreaking multi-million pound scheme to buy back ex-council homes from residents in the Sandwell area who are struggling with their mortgages could be launched in the New Year.

Sandwell Council housing chiefs will meet with MPs next month to thrash out the details of the plan, aimed at helping families who face being made homeless during the economic crisis.

Under the scheme, a team of financial experts would be set up to offer advice to homeowners struggling with their repayments.

Those who risk having their homes repossessed could have their properties bought by the council and rented back to them.

Many struggling with mortgage costs are thought to be those who bought their own council houses through the right-to-buy initiative.

The proposals would mean a policy change by Sandwell Council. Housing chiefs from Sandwell Council will meet with the four borough MPs on January 21 to discuss the options.


  1. 1
    Jim G

    No,No,No, the council couldn’t look after the houses in the first place that’s why many people bought them so that they could get them habitable.

    I remember when my mothers house was owned by the council, it was impossible to get repairs done, and when the houses were modernised, the contractors they used were cowboys and the council didn’t care.

    You could open a kitchen cupboard up and see the dirt foundations inside the cupboard, the cowboy contractors had only concreted as far as the cupboard not under it, or the air vents on the wall, needed to allow fresh air in the room where a gas fire was installed, had no holes behind them and were just stuck on the walls with plaster.

    If the council want to help, leave the occupants in their houses, and set up an interest free crisis loan for genuine people that have lost their jobs, due to this Labour Government allowing the Banking Industry to ruin the country.

    If they say they haven’t got the money, look in the same pot that they get the money from to support that great white elephant the Public.

    Jim of Bearwood.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Dave

    Sounds like the long road to socialism.

    I make a poor decision to buy a house I can’t afford and while all those other people who bought privately get repossessed due to loss of incomes, I get away scot free by selling my house back to the council and rent it back at low rents.

    What if the house is now worth less than I paid for it? Do the council (taxpayers) overpay for it to bail me out?

    Doesn’t sound very fair for those who will be repossessed outside of this scheme. Doesn’t sound like it’s very fair for taxpayers’ either.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    SNIFFER

    WHY SHOULD COUNCIL TAX PAYERS BAIL OUT LAME DUCKS.IT IS BEYOND BELIEF THAT THIS WRETCHED LABOUR COUNCIL SHOULD WASTE MORE OF OUR MONEY.HAVE THEY NOT WASTED ENOUGH OF OUR HARD EARNED CASH ON PROJECTS LIKE ‘THE PUBLIC.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    ExCon

    Wasted enough money already on that pubic building, maybe let people whos homes get repossesed live there ?

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    WHAT THE ****

    lets battle the council out.. lets all ask them to bail us out also or refund our taxes.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    chrisc

    Seems to me we are going around in a full circle again. Council housing should never have been sold off in the first place. Theres no shortage of morgage properties around but unfortunately people can now rent cheaper than buying so the council property was always a great way for people to start off,even those who played the system by having loads of kids and moved around from house to house benefited by the council system. Renting is the only affordable way for people to get a home together nowadays and if the money is available, there is worse that the council can waste our money on! Comment no2-dave -the council won’t pay anymore than what was originally morgaged for the property. The people who are being bailed out won’t make a penny it will be a voluntary repo job and then they will rent it back off the council. Councils arn’t that stupid-contrary to peoples beliefs.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    julian

    Does anyone really think that this idea of buying back homes is for the advatage of the home owner.NO! the truth is simple they want to profit again.This time they want to buy back the houses with external finacing.The property value at present is is gross negative equity.But any dumb fool knows that house prices will rise again as soon as they hit rock bottom.No doubt an equity firm is behind this.
    It is up the the goverment since it participated in causing all this inb the first place to bail us out.I beg all you home owners to not go with this scheme.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    E

    I am going through a possible reposession and wold welcome this, if it meant me staying in my home….You obviously have not had this worry and fear, until you have your opinion is worthless.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    chris

    If you are redundant or have health problems i think anyone can sympathise with all of these people. If you have bitten off more than you can chew with greed then tuff luck you made your bed you lie in it!

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