Offered council property in terrible area

It’s either that or continuing in your mums lounge which isn’t fair to her, even if you are ok with it.

You don’t really have a choice.

And you have made a poor choice by posting something like this. So judgmental, and in no way helpful whatsoever.

As others have said you need to take it or you won’t get anything else . Council properties can be hit and miss regarding the area , you just have to make the most of it . When I was offered my first property 13 years ago , I had no idea where it was at first and everyone told me even if it’s a rough area just take it , we can make the house safe . It was a good area luckily . I have done a mutual exchange in to an area that isn’t fantastic but I needed a bigger property for my children and I wasn’t going to get rehoused anytime soon so I had to make sacrifices

yeah just take it! I bought a flat last year in a not so nice area as it was all we could afford - it's got a huge mix of people in the area - there are gang problems - people stabbed daily but it's all gang related so it doesn't really creep into the lives of most people in the area. It is what it is

Trouble is everyone wants to get on the council housing list and then pick and choose where they live. It doesn't work that way unfortunately. I'm on the list for a transfer and I have to take what is offered. If you want more say on locations perhaps look for private rentals so that people who would be grateful for anything can have the place that isn't desirable enough for you.

@BMW6 yes totally, I live in a posh ish dales village, next door was a private rental both were heavy drinkers, smashed the place up, fighting with each other, police called every other week. I reported to SS police and the kids school hearing her threatening to kill her daughter (year 7:8). When they moved out we had a party.
rent on it was 1700 a month…
in contrast I lived on a notorious Manchester council estate in the 90s and my neighbours were lovely and I’m still friends with some today.
OP take it, having your own place will be an amazing new start for you, as others say you will move on, nothing is forever.
good luck!!

When I lived in a city, I lived in both a 'desirable' and 'undesirable' part of the city. When i lived briefly in the desirable area, I was verbally abused in the street, had someone attempt to break in and felt completely unsafe all the time. So I moved back to the rundown part where I had stayed previously, bought a flat, and loved it. Yes, there was crime and antisocial behavior,but not as much as I thought there would be. On the whole, people were more friendly, my neighbours were lovely, and I lived there happily for over 10 years.
Give the flat a chance OP, it may not be as bad as you think, and you can't really stay in your Mums lounge indefinitely.

When you say top floor , how many floors are there, are you talking high rise or 3 storey flats, we have a few of those around here. Either way I would take it in your circumstances.

Take it and see , the very worse that could happen is that you will be in the same position as you are now , which is living at home or private rental .

@ShouldITakeIt I really think you need to wake up and realise the seriousness of your situation. It's almost impossible in most places to get social housing let alone in a nice area, whatever that is. You're bringing up a child at the moment in your mother's home that can't continue indefinitely it isn't fair on your mother or your child.

For goodness sake take the flat and make the best of it, as others have said you can ask for a transfer/swap after you've moved in.

And yes you will be definitely be removed from the waiting list if you turn down a second flat without a very good reason.

Take the flat and as soon as it's in your name advertise for a swap.

No it doesn’t.

But the point being made through that standard idiom, was that this OP has very limited choices here.

She says that private renting is not an option for her.
obviously buying is out of the question.
She’s currently in very overcrowded accommodation with her mum.
She has already turned down one social
housing offer and this is her final offer before she’s removed from the list entirely.

It’s quite disingenuous to pretend that is the same as saying people in social
housing are ‘beggars’.

Even leafy suburbs have their problems. I live in South Manchester, we’ve had knife crime, mugging, gangs of teens roaming the streets throwing stones, a whole street of cars being keyed.
Nothing is done.🤷‍♀️

I don't think the pp meant it literally. It's just a figure of speech meaning if you have very very few choices you can't afford to be picky.

Living in SH doesn't make someone a beggar!

I don't understand how it's a 'terrible' area when anti social reports are a few years old. I would think a top floor flat would be ideal, away from any 'undesirables' who may walk past the window.

Op, just take it then save up and look to rent privately where you can chose the area you'd prefer.

I think most council properties are in fairly deprived areas. Beggars can't be choosers!

OP, it's no wonder you're stressed and everyone would like to live somewhere nice with their kids - but please don't judge an area by a few 'undesirables', and anyway who IS an undesirable?

I lived in a 'rough' area for some years and nothing bad ever happened to me.

How do you know the OP made poor choices and are you saying that because the OP is a single mum she's an undesirable? Because I'm getting that vibe from your comments.

If you don’t take this flat and get booted off the list, you’re very silly OP to put it mildly. I’d jump at the chance in your shoes. Best of luck with it x

Your very lucky to be offered a council property, personally I would take it .
Your home will be what you make it . Every area will have its problems.

I lived in a private rent in a beautiful rural area with very low crime. My neighbours were drug dealing abusive arseholes who used to bang on the walls and scream at me if the baby cried in the afternoon (only if dh wasn't there 🙄)

The flat sounds nice, the area sounds nice. Quite often areas that used to be awful have had some money put into them and aren't bad now. Take the flat. If you hate it look for a swap in the future. Flats go quickly because family members look to move close to where they grew up.

Where did she say she can’t move back with her mum? Plenty of people move out of their mums house then move back when things don’t work out.

Of course you take the flat and put a roof over yours and your child’s head. Then work on getting a decent career so you can save and move on. It won’t be forever if you don’t want it to be

Definitely take it. It’s not forever and you admit the flat itself is nice.