Thatcher’s Right to Buy policy turned thousands of London council homes over to private hands.
Though the mass sell-off is widely credited as an architect of today’s housing crisis, such stock is a lifeline to aspiring homeowners excluded from pricier new builds and conversions.
Our guide to buying an ex-local authority home lays out some of the practical perks, including liveable space planning and often far lower service charges.
Council building programmes were popular in places like Kensington, Pimlico and Shoreditch, putting desirable postcodes within reach of those with relatively modest budgets.
Here are twenty of the best ex-council homes for sale now.
City of London, EC1Y
£720,000
A two-bedroom split-level flat in the Grade II-listed Golden Lane Estate — long seen as a more affordable alternative to the Barbican — with a balcony, built-in storage and original concrete open tread stairs.
Hurford Salvi Carr, 020 3907 3659
West Norwood, SE27
£735,000
This sensitively decorated Seventies house is being sold with planning permission for a rear extension. Set over three storeys, it comes with three bedrooms, a separate study and a generous store space.
The Modern House, 020 3795 5920
Parsons Green, SW6
£500,000
A bright ground-floor flat overlooking appealing communal gardens. It’s within easy walking distance of the river, two Tube stations and Fulham Palace House and Gardens.
Carter Jonas, 020 3834 8625
Brixton, SW9
£380,000
A good-size flat in a striking building near the station. There are two equal sized bedrooms, a south-facing balcony with panoramic views across London and a contemporary kitchen with an island and butler sink.
Purple Bricks, 020 3897 7789
Putney, SW15
£450,000
A three-bedroom maisonette with more than 1,000 square feet of space on the border with Barnes. There’s a balcony, parking and no onward chain, but it does need a cosmetic lift.
Antony Roberts, 020 8878 8433
Belsize Park, NW3
£625,000
This two-bedroom split-level flat is part of a Neave Brown-designed scheme that maximised built-in storage. Sited between Belsize Park and Gospel Oak, it offers swift access onto Hampstead Heath.
Wentworth Estates, 020 3889 9106
Balham, SW12
£365,000
An attractive one-bedroom apartment near the Tube, with a removable partition in the living room which has been used to create a bonus home office area. The bedroom features a wall of built-in storage.
Hamptons, 020 3432 2412
Ham, TW10
£725,000
A refurbished three-bedroom house with a south-west facing garden, close to plenty of green space and good schools. The vast downstairs reception, with its woodburning stove, is a particular highlight.
Mervyn Smith, 020 3869 0908
Pimlico, SW1V
£550,000
This two-bedroom apartment sits in the fourth floor of a riverside block built to Bauhaus principles. Perks include a private balcony and access to Grade II-listed communal gardens designed by the architects themselves.
The Modern House, 020 3795 5920
Canonbury, N1
£475,000
A two-bedroom first floor flat in a prime spot on the Hackney Islington border, with a garage and additional parking space. It’s well-placed for several Overground stations, as well as bus routes into Angel.
Next Move, 020 3869 5324
Highbury, N5
£650,000
Set over the top two floors of a low-rise block with only eight flats, this bright two-bedroom apartment is well-placed for shops and cafes on Upper Street. Highlights include wooden flooring and no chain.
Neilson & Bauer, 020 3871 5802
Covent Garden, WC2H
£725,000
A spacious one-bedroom flat for sale in a remarkably central spot — two minutes from Covent Garden Tube and a short stroll from Seven Dials. A pioneering scheme in its day, this flat has great built-in storage and no onward chain.
Barnard Marcus, 020 3871 6006
Bow, E3
£525,000
Smartly refurbed, this three-bedroom maisonette near the Tube and DLR is being sold without a chain. There’s a handful of useful extras, from the downstairs WC to the dressing room between bedrooms.
W J Meade, 020 3856 8727
Camberwell, SE5
£400,000
With nearly 1,000 square feet of space, this three-bedroom flat in a mansion block near Camberwell Green would suit families or sharers. Perks include floor-to-ceiling sash windows and parking.
Strike, 020 3834 8320
Notting Hill, W2
£675,000
A well-proportioned two-bedroom flat in a prime spot between Notting Hill and Bayswater. Minutes from Royal Oak Tube station, it has a neutral, modern feel with a sleek white kitchen and wooden floors.
Druce, 020 4538 2129
Gospel Oak, NW5
£730,000
The highlight of this spacious flat is the balcony overlooking Hampstead Heath, though the proximity to the Overground is handy too. The two perfectly equisized bedrooms should nullify any potential squabbles.
Buchanan Rae Wilson, 020 3835 3691
Barnsbury, N1
£650,000
This airy split-level apartment is within easy walking distance of Angel and King’s Cross for countless transport connections. There’s a wealth of natural light within the flat and a balcony off the reception room.
Chestertons, 020 3872 5245
Edmonton, N9
£489,950
A deceptively spacious five-bedroom terraced house within walking distance of Edmonton Green station and the shopping centre. It could do with some cosmetic updates.
Castles, 020 3840 3311
Tooting, SW17
£600,000
This chain-free end of terrace house near the station comes with a host of practical perks, including an integrated garage, further off-street parking and a low-maintenance south-facing garden.
Aspire, 020 3870 9371
Holland Park, W11
£650,000
A generous three-bedroom apartment with balcony on the first floor of a low-rise block set in communal gardens. On the border with Notting Hill, it offers strategic access to three Tube stations.
