juvera Jul 13, 2013:

Let's clarify UK councils were always entitled to sell their property, still are, but it was not so common before 1978.
Council flats can be sold by the council to the tenants on a maximum 125 years lease.
If it is sold to the tenant, the ex tenant becomes the "owner" and the flat becomes "ex council flat". The freeholder is still likely to be the council, or a housing association, or a group owners of the flats.
Houses are more likely to be sold by the council as freehold and they are then wholly owned by the ex tenant.
The reason for them being called "ex council flats" is because that's what they are and let's face it, you can spot a council development from a mile. In any case, by now some of them are in mixed ownership, because not all the flats were bought up by the ex tenants.
As the law stands at the moment, ex council property can only be sold by the new owner - if he bought it as a council tenant - after 5 years of ownership, to stop profiteering.
The history of the council flats and ex council flats has little relevance to the "öröklakás". That is "önálló ingatlan" and that applies to any property which can be sold individually at any time by the present owner.

Gabrielle Weatherhead (asker) Jul 13, 2013:

@ Juvera In the UK they are sold to the tenant by the council, or used to be, and the tenant became the owner so it could be sold. But even after the private sale these were classed as 'council flats' in the valuation report. (Northern Ireland in any event)

juvera Jul 13, 2013:

Council flats are not given for life ..and certainly not available for anybody to sell, only the council is entitled to sell them!
You could be a council tenant for life, but it doesn't mean that you will be living in the same accommodation for life.

What you are looking for is a "freehold", or "privately owned" two roomed flat.