Offered council property in terrible area

Honestly I'd take it. All areas have "undesirables" and tbh you've made up your mind about people just by looking at them walking down the street.

We just moved from an "undesirable area", to be closer to family. It had drug dealing and all the rest of it. But our building was OK, some neighbours were amazing and we're still in touch. Most people there are just trying to make a go of things like everyone else. There were loads of little groups trying to make things better.
I'd worry that if you turn down another property that you'd be removed from the list.

You need to take it op. Doesn’t have to be forever but you are a mum and you need to provide a home for your child.

In a top floor flat?

In my area it would be a miracle to be offered a council place within 2-3 years like you have. Many wait most of their children's lives. Just take it! It will be your own little space.

I wouldn’t take it.

I was making a point about outdated reputations and not making snap judgements about who is undesirable but if you wanna misunderstand me, fair enough.

As others have said you can’t control your neighbours, I live in a quiet road , my upstairs neighbours have upset everyone with loud music , fly tipping and fires inthe garden .

You are being incredibly unrealistic in your expectations. Take the flat. You do not really have another option, then make the best of it.

Take it and get yourself a sweet dog.

This is so true. Our first home was in a fairly deprived area with a much higher crime rate than where we moved to next. We had absolutely no problems at all in the first home in a poor area. Our next home was a much nicer area… but we lived opposite an absolute witch which made living there pretty miserable.

It doesn't sound like a "terrible" area at all. Rather you sound like you have champagne tastes on a beer budget.

Take it, I had to do similar and just used to lock my door after work and not answer to any unexpected callers after dark.

it was fine, neighbours were nice and I had no problems despite the area.

Take the flat. It doesn’t have to be forever - you have choices. Plan for the future, money may be tight right now but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Find a job that pays more and if need qualifications, get some. Your DS will be off to school before you know it - start making plans now to get you both out of there.

Take it, you can’t afford to be fussy by the sounds of it.

True though.

Same happened to me- offered a flat in a formerly notorious area. I took it and I'm very glad I did because my neighbours are lovely, it's the quietest place I've ever lived, and its right beside a park that gets green flag awards every year.
There's some dealing but there is everywhere. A couple of people leave rubbish but we've got a litter picking group. I love it here.

Not true . She may have Bern offered one because it sounds like her mums is overcrowded but if she doesn't want to take it that's up to her and if she decides she wants to go back that's also up to her

’m wondering why no one is thinking about the OP’s mum here. She’s clearly got a small house and having her adult daughter and grandchild living with her is causing overcrowding. The OP sleeps in the living room, which must cause difficulties day to day.

The ‘oh you could just stay at your mum’s forever’ response seems very unfair to everyone else in the house.

The choices are not ideal, but the OP should try to think longer term. She needs to have a plan for how she’s going to house herself. If she rejects this, then she’s going to have to do it with ideas about how she’s going to get herself in a position to rent privately.

@WiddlinDiddlin that's a great story and the perfect example of why your neighbours can make or break a home. You could live on the best road and have the worst nutter next door.. or you could live on a council estate with some rough diamonds who will always have your back 😉

Take it, make it your new home. Shut the door and keep yourself to yourself. In 5 years from now your circumstances could well have changed - you could potentially buy the flat by then! Imagine owning it.. renting it out and becoming a property owner / landlord. Always think long term..

I saw a few undesirable looking people walking about

Curious how you are ascertaining this!

you have to live somewhere
nothing is forever
the alternatives aren't viable sometimes we just have to choose the least-bad unwelcome choice from a set of options where nothing is actually a good option.

I think take it, and would on a 5 year plan to make sure it's just temporary. what actions can yoi take so that longer term you have some better options?

She's sleeping in the living room and is therefore overcrowded. She will have been given priority as neither she,nor her child, have a bedroom and they share other facilities. That gives her priority.

If she's able to live with her mum she wouldn't be given a council house?