Paul Taylor originally tried to buy the property in 1995 after the Government’s ‘right-to-buy’ scheme was introduced, according to the Daily Mail.
However, Macclesfield Council were reluctant to sell Mr Taylor the 140-year-old property on the grounds that the house was on “consecrated land” and that there was a public footpath running through the back garden.
The pensioner, however, remained determined and even studied a law degree which he completed in 1998. And now, finally, it seems his studies and determination have paid off as a court ruling has ordered the council to sell him the house at the original price he applied for – £60,000.
Property professionals have valued the house at £350,000 and believe it would have been worth £93,000 in 1995. As a council tenant Mr Taylor has been awarded a 30 per cent discount.
What’s more, the father-of-three has been awarded legal costs of around £17,000 as well as back payments for the rent paid over the last 15 years – totalling £36,000.
Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper, he said: “It's ridiculous that it's taken 15 years to get all this it sorted bearing in mind you can pay off a mortgage in 20 years. The fact is they should have let me buy it in 1995 instead of playing silly beggars.
“They tried to come up with every excuse in the book to try and stop me buying the house, presumably because it was such a lovely property to be deemed a council house.
“I've always loved the property because I used to walk past it when I was a park ranger and I couldn't believe my luck when I was able to move in.
“My solicitor now says it would have been cheaper just to give me the house for free back then, and it's pretty much turned out to be true.”
According to the papeer, the council also claim Mr Taylor was not entitled to the house as he was given the original tenancy in error.
But Mr Taylor told the paper: “I always knew I would win. But it’s taken me 15 years.”
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