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Topic: Woolaway bungalow

Mischiefsmum

03/3/2020 at 9:01am
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Hi all, after some experiences.
Since my husband died last year I’ve been working towards moving me and little one to be near my folks in the Tamar Valley north of Plymouth.
Yest the second person to view my home offered full asking price. Yay and oh s*** and much tears in equal measure.
Now the pressure is on to find a property for us. I’ve found a Woolaway bungalow on a large plot in need of some modernisation but for a really good price given plot size and location.
I’ll be a cash buyer so don’t have to worry bout not being able to get a mortgage on it. My real question is what are they like to live in? Are they as bad as the internet day? Are they cold and damp?
I’ve lived on a narrow boat, in a Kentish Wooden cob bungalow and various non standard places in New Zealand. Will this be colder and damper? It’s in an exposed ish site surrounded by tall hedge and walls, not in the damp valley on the edge of a village.
After reading all that I’d be really glad to hear from anyone who lives in one.
Thanks

Bob61

03/3/2020 at 10:18am
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I have never heard the term 'Woolaway' before but if they are prefabricated buildings built from concrete slabs just after the war I know of lots of them and I can say that the people living in them think they are great. They are certainly not damp or cold. There are quite a few in the Portsmouth area and every time it is suggested they are past their sell by date and should be pulled down and 'proper' houses built there is a huge outcry.

I should say though that most of them have been modernised and well insulated. I believe some of them have had the concrete panels replaced with brick so I guess it depends how much you want to spend on them.

If that is not what Woolaway is then please disregard every thing I have said

Post last edited on 03/03/2020 10:22:07

saxo1

03/3/2020 at 11:45am
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All the council owned woolaway bungalows and a lot of the houses in this area were demolished as they were deemed unsafe due to concrete cancer,the houses that weren't demolished had a structural survey undertaken and those that didn't have concrete cancer had brick external walls built.
Some insurers are reluctant to insure.
There is a thread on UKCS,search for prefab houses.

https://www.msol.uk/mortgages/concrete-construction/mortgage-woolaway-prefabricated-bungalows/

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/everything-know-north-taunton-pre-514307
saxo1

Post last edited on 03/03/2020 11:49:07

Post last edited on 03/03/2020 13:00:21

Post last edited on 03/03/2020 13:08:13

Mrs. Bonce

via mobile 03/3/2020 at 9:40pm
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Never heard of them either, but interesting to read that prefabs were built for ex service folk after the war. Dad got a job at a borstal after the war and prefabs were built there for the workers. This was Gaynes Hall which later became Littlehay Prison.

saxo1

03/3/2020 at 10:22pm
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300,000 prefabs were built post war to make up the shortfall in housing to replace those destroyed by the blitz,they weren't just for ex servicemen.
saxo1

Fiona W

via mobile 04/3/2020 at 9:56am
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There’s a long thread about them on the MSE (money saving expert) website. Resale is an issue - OP can pay cash but the next buyer may need a mortgage. It might be worthwhile finding out what certificates the lenders would look for so that any building work that OP does to the property adds value. The sites with big plots and / or great views do ok because a future buyer would use it as a building plot, demolish
& build new.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.

Mischiefsmum

08/3/2020 at 9:06am
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Thanks for the replies all. I also had a long chat with the surveyor who helped me with my rental purchase and feel much more confident about what to look for and what to avoid.
It seems if you can buy a good one you can do alright in terms of a lovely home in an otherwise unaffordable area and if you can afford to remedy the walls you should make most of the money back when selling on.
I have decided to give this particular one a miss as its an auction and I’m not confident enough to do that on my own and paperwork wouldn’t be in time anyway but I won’t rule one out in future.
Thanks again all.

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