Has anybody out there actually been accepted on the homesteading scheme and had everything go through for them ?
How long did it take ?
If anybody can enlighten me with any info please !

I aint recieved anything yet so im taking it as i havent been accepted

you'd be right there mate, i don't thinbk you have either !

I went to see the last bunch of properties in february type time and like you didn't get anything from it until last month when the guy they originally chose backed out and i was the next one out of the hat so to speak !

But still it's just taking so long, you would think that it would be a simple transaction i mean there's no chain to start with but i live in hope of it all being signed up so i can start actually doing some work on the property maybe i'll get to live in the house sometime before the next millenium !!

a good scheme just needs fine tunning i think !!

I might sound thick but whats a homesteading scheme?

the only homesteading scheme ive heard of was in the american west where you were given a couple of cows and a parcel of land, perhaps they are doing something similar to repopulate the manor? :)

dave

LOL !!! yes it's exactly that 3 cows, an emu and a rhino !!

Seriously the homesteading scheme is run by the council for first time buyers who live or work in sheffield basically they have a few properties that would cost them money to do up before they could use them/rent them out whatever, so the idea is instead they sell them to people who meet certain criteria at a discounted price but with the stipulation that your do x amount of work to the property. Each property has a full list of works and estimated costs.
You have to agree to do this work within 2 years of buying the property and live in it as your sole residence for i think another 2 /3 years after. This ensuring that a load of property developers don't come along get the houses at dirt cheap prices and sell them on at big profit or rent them out.
The only thing is it is a bit of a lottery to actually get a property every so often the do viewings for a batch of properties you then apply for each one your interested in if you meet all the conditions your application is put into a pot and one lucky person is drawn out and gets the house !!
I guess this is the fairest way of doing it really as when i have been to some viewings they have been easily been upto50 people lookin round some who you kinda know aren't going to qualify ( i.e property developers) but then lots that do, but at the same time it's really frustrating.
Hope that makes it clearer.....
Think you can visit city council website for more details or i do know that Haybrook estate agents where looking after the last batch of properties for them.
Oh yeah forgot to say the price is a set price so no bidding wars which i s fantastic if only you get picked out of the hat !!!