council or private renting

[mummyejbx]

Hey, just looking for some advice I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and have a five year old. I live in a three bedroom council masionette and have lived here for about three years it needs a bit of a do up especially in the bedrooms the whole house needs new carpets or flooring and the third bedroom needs filling and plastering and painting ect. I also used to live here with my ex boyfriend and I now have a new boyfriend with the baby on the way I wanted to move somewhere new which was fresh for us the only option really is privately renting. But I'm not sure what really to do whether to stay in the flat I'm in now and do it up as much as I can afford or move somewhere and have move expensive rent and not as much security but have a garden and somewhere new ect.



Thanks X

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

If you can't easily afford to private rent, then definitely stay put.

A council tenancy is generally much more secure than a private one & social landlords are generally more understanding about HB, payment difficulties (should any arise in the future) etc.

Have you thought about a mutual exchange? That might be a good way for you to move somewhere "new" without moving into the private rental market.

[GraceKellysLeftArm]

Speak to a carpet company - mine are willing to do a room at a time, so it's more like finding 200 a pop rather than over 1000.

You can do the plastering and the painting.

Do not leave your council house - you will never get such a good deal and frankly, moving house will cost more in the first three months than doing up your current house.

[expatinscotland]

Stay put.

[Hastagwhatever]

Stay where you are. Have you thought about a council exchange? Not everybody minds how well decorated the place is.

[emwithme]

I'd look into doing an exchange. That way you keep the security of the council tenancy and still get the "somewhere new".

Do not (unless you want the upheaval of potentially moving every six months) go into the private sector, unless you absolutely have no other option.

[mummyejbx]

Thanks for the replies, yeah I've looked into exchanges and I bid on houses every week as I'm on the housing list but I want to get the baby's room done ect before he comes in April and the only way I can do that is stay here or move privately. I've recently come to the end of my contract at work so I don't really know what I'm doing for money atm which makes me nervous about things.. My oh works full time X

[rabbit123]

Stay put. At least you have the freedom to decorate and replace carpets if you want to, you can't do that in private renting

[TwoLittleBlooms]

I really would stay put, we have been in private rented - we have lived in this house for 6 years almost. Made improvements to decor, flooring etc, never late with rent - and one week before Christmas we got a section 21 (after asking for damp to be sorted) -I have only just returned from mat leave so we did not have the funds for a new private rented deposit (we both work but with fees etc on top we were looking at £1500 or thereabouts for a small home for us plus 2 dc - we just don't have that sort of disposable income).

We have been offered a council house and we got the keys last Wednesday and we will not be giving the council tenancy up in a hurry. The only way is if we can get to a position where we can buy our own property - we want security for our two children. You and your children would be much better staying in social housing than private rented. I didn't really think how insecure our housing situation was.

[Penfold007]

Stay in your current flat and spruce it up. You have the benefit of a secure tenancy. Check out local private rents and see if they are more expensive that your current rent.

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Surely a couple tins of paint will be a lot cheaper than finding a deposit (at least £1000) moving truck, all the hassle of packing, changing addresses, unpacking, being without WiFi for a few days til you're connected (that was the worst thing for me lol) Definitely stay put, decorate the worst room 1st (baby will be in with you for a while) When we moved the bathroom was the 1st priority for me then the dcs rooms. We still haven't decorated our bedroom or the living room 18 months later.
Good luck in whatever you do though