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Original poster

Can’t afford to carpet my council house

365 replies

Florafloral · 03/05/2024 09:45

I have recently moved into a council house with my 5 year old after being made homeless. It’s a new build so All rooms are painted which I’m grateful for but I can’t afford to carpet it. It’s concrete flooring throughout which is impossible to keep clean, is very powdery and dusty. It’s making our clothes and furniture dusty too. I applied for a grant for flooring with the council but was turned down because my DD isn’t under 3 and we have no health conditions. Does anyone have any tips or how I can try and get cheap flooring. I’ve been quoted over £2000 for the whole house. It just seems impossible

OP posts:
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FlippyFloppyShoe · 03/05/2024 09:51

Would mopping the floors help with the dust? As for carpet, in my house when I wanted something immediately, but relatively temporary I got it secondhand off gumtree or Facebook. I know that maybe long-term it's not what you probably will want, but to help in the meantime might be worth a look, although you would probably need a car to move it, so not sure if that is viable?

OneThreadOnly · 03/05/2024 09:51

There are places that do pay weekly carpets if you are desperate, however I would just save up and do a room at a time.

check on free cycle or gum tree for large rugs in the meantime.

Can you get a budgeting advance from universal credit or any help for your council’s discretionary fund?

May09Bump · 03/05/2024 09:51

Post on freecycle - wanted remnants, carpet in good condition, large rugs. To get the dust down wet mop, microfibre dust the walls and if necessary paint the floors to seal. Again, see if any paint on freecycle.

Latenightreader · 03/05/2024 09:50

Our local freebie groups have regular requests for/offers of rugs and carpet off cuts. Are you a member of any you could try?

Flickersy · 03/05/2024 09:50

Also vinyl can be a good temporary option. Cheap, easy to clean, and you can install it yourself.

Sillyjane · 03/05/2024 09:50

Redshoeblueshoe · 03/05/2024 09:46

My local council provides funds for this. Have you asked them ?

It’s mind boggling you missed that in the op.

Wowzel · 03/05/2024 09:49

I think i'd start by asking on local free sites if anyone had any rugs to give away

Flickersy · 03/05/2024 09:49

See if you can get cheap or free rugs / carpets from charity shops, gumtree, Facebook etc. Forget about nice colour schemes etc for now, focus on getting something on the floor.

Then you can do it properly room by room as you go.

TheTartfulLodger · 03/05/2024 09:49

Try Freegle or Freecycle. Sometimes people throw out practically new carpets in house clearances. Also there is a carpet fitting company near me who do cheap fittings for people on low income by using excess carpet from office fittings. It may not be the luxurious deep pile people would choose but it's better than no carpet. Phone around and see if any companies offer lower prices for low income or if they know anyone that does similar deals where they reuse the waste carpet from bigger jobs.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 03/05/2024 09:48

Honestly this is madness! What is the point of giving you a brand new house with no bloody flooring?! I’m so sorry OP. Do you have any family that could help? Maybe you could do the living room and the bedrooms now and then wait to do the rest? You could buy cheaper flooring and lay it yourself ?

BusyCM · 03/05/2024 09:48

Redshoeblueshoe · 03/05/2024 09:46

My local council provides funds for this. Have you asked them ?

Did you read the OP? She was turned down.

enchantedbymoonlight · 03/05/2024 09:47

Look on marketplace/gumtree sometimes people sell carpets when they redecorate, it might not be perfect but it could do a turn while you save.

Redshoeblueshoe · 03/05/2024 09:46

My local council provides funds for this. Have you asked them ?

Houseplanter · 03/05/2024 09:46

Start with just downstairs and go to a carpet shop and look for remnants