Offered council property in terrible area

The area looks shabby? Are you for real? Do you realise how fortunate you are to be offered a really nice flat in what sounds like not such a terrible area after your update? Of course you take it

Your being really fussy if the surrounding area is nice OP. You need your own property so you don't have much choice.

Talk to your friends about the area its probably the "average". @HotSince82 is right.

In the nicest possible way... where did you think you'd be offered? The vast majority of council housing is on council estates. The odd rows of council properties in 'naice' areas largely got bought up by people when right to buy came in!
Council flats on the inside are usually much better than outside - generous proportions, big windows, and if you're in a high rise, decent security. Local schools usually have extra funding and in my experience are often bloody fantastic. Local communities tend to be close knit and welcoming. Yes there will be some trouble locally, but if you don't go looking/don't get involved you're unlikely to have any issues.

If you decide in the long run that its really not for you, you've got a secure tenancy until you're in a position to move, whether that's through a swap or being in a position to buy or rent a more expensive private property. If you turn it down you've got nothing. Taking it means keeping your options open in the long run.

I'll also point out that I thought my street was going to be dodgy. It's known as the rough street of the area. However the majority are absolutely lovely! I've never lived in an area before where everyone says hello and wants to get to know you.

I was worried about the house opposite me as there's some pretty loud music and a young lad that just sits outside my house with his mates. I was so worried that I have cctv installed....until one day I was bringing the bin in and the neighbour came over to introduce herself. She's really nice and it's her grandson that lives with her that's also really nice and well mannered for a young lad. Too look at them you would think 'dodgy as anything' but to speak to them it's far from the truth.
It's been eye opening but I'm actually now part of a really lovely community

It really doesn't sound that bad. Lots of areas 'used to be dodgy'.

It's council housing. It was unlikely to ever be amazing. But you have an opportunity here to live somewhere more affordable, no private landlord.
Take it. If you hate it, then you can work out something else or go back to your mums but you might as well try it.

Loads of people would count themselves lucky to be offered something like this. In the London borough I live in the waiting list is 12 years for a council place (if you're lucky) and everyone else gets passed around from temp accom to other rubbish temp accom.
Make it your own and try and make the best of the situation.

Take it op. You can swap later on. I've just done something similar and I don't regret it. The areas not great but it's a home that offers stability that I can afford. I'm currently making my home into a 'proper L home' and I love it. It's mine. No one is going to chuck me out and I can live here feeling secure. Nothing beats that feeling - I was homeless to and living at my mums with the dc.

The area might not be great but you can't have it all. Feel lucky to be offered something.

Too many people trying to hang on for the nice new builds these days

Every area has its bad inhabitants. I’ve seen areas classed as deprived when some houses go for near a million and the school education although rated good was below par.

Live in another area again decent house prices but deprived. Schools same rated good but are above and beyond.

If it’s council house now or be booted grab it and run.

Take the flat. Work on earning more money and that will give you more choices for the future.

If you cant afford to rent somewhere nicer then I don't see you have much of a choice

Take it for now doors lock windows close and your universe can be your own four walls

I lived high rise the worse thst happened to me was I ran out the back door late gor work one morning and hit a "body" someone was sleeping rough out there and I just slammed a fire door into them I screamed and ran out the front honestly thought I had hurt them but I was too scared to check turns out they were bruised but fine

It was a very rough area you never left after dark alone but the locks were good I fitted a chain and a bolt and i was left alone

I live in an area with a doggy past, lots of council houses and that's officially listed as 'deprived'.

It's quiet, the schools are great, it's had lots of investment and 'revitalisation' schemes in the last 15 years. I love it.

With respect;

You are on a council housing list. What you have described is a very usual and reasonable description of a council estate.
Most people living there will be respectable probably friendly and community spirited. There will be undesirables but they shouldn't bother you if you don't fraternise with or make yourself known to them. Your flat isn't ground floor so unlikely to be a prime target for opportunistic theft.

What else were you expecting to be offered, given the circumstances?

There’s a crime map you can check which shows offences and where they are committed and the dates I can’t remember the website address but I’m sure it will come up on google

Before I had kids I was a single person and got offered a studio flat in a HIGH crime rate area. I mean the shops 2 minutes round the corner there were stabbings every other month. I minded my business and I was there for 3 years and saw nothing, I had no problem living there. I understand your concern, especially where your kids are involved - but I do think the fear itself is worse than the actual experience itself. Take it, mind your business and make it your home. It’s not all bad.

And bear this in mind OP. Whether you are privately renting, a home owner or Council tenant, you have no control on who lives in your neighbourhood. Good people come and go, so do trash.
Horrible neighbours can be absolutely anywhere, including wealthy areas.

If its ground floor there will be loads of people wanting to swap

Is it ground floor? This would be a big factor in my decision

And there will be other people living in the area who aren't "undesirable". It's not like you'll be moving into an area where literally everyone else is "undesirable"

I'm in a council house in a rough area. It's been fine. The majority of the people living here are lovely. It's definitely improved since I moved in 7 years ago as well

Take it, if you really hate it then move back in with your mum.

I live in a deprived area and no real problems. There is drug dealing but that's pretty universal these days.

Take a chance on it - if it is really bad you can try and swap or go back to mums.

You have no choice. You obviously needed a home or you wouldn't be on the list. Here's your home. It's not forever.

Take it. It's not forever.

If the rent is lower than market rate you'll be able to save up and you might be eligible for shared ownership in the future.

Think of it as a stop gap to where you want to be - it's a stepping stone not your final destination.

And once you have the flat you might be able to swap for somewhere else. But you can't do that if you refuse it.

Is it just shabby and run down or are the crime statistics concerning you?