Pending council house offer!!

Congratulations!!

Please be aware that it's pretty much a certainty that you will need to get new carpets, they almost always rip them out in council properties. I don't know if you have a budget for that or can get a grant of some kind.

You will now have a forever home for you and your children, enjoy it. ❤️

My advice would be to move asap and claim if you can for overlap of properties, even if you just move all your beds in and start sleeping there - then put in your claim for overlapping property asap.

Then contact council tax and sort out a payment schedule for the second property

you may also want to look at DHP from your local council if money is really tight - this is a pot of money from the government given to local council to allocate every 3 months - nothing to stop you claiming this as a one of to help you budget - your district council or county council should be able to help you and give you the forms

I got keys within 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure this is yours now, they will just be checking you're not a convicted yob that doesn't pay rent. I had to get new carpets they always rip them up for h&s

You can claim for 2 properties if you claim housing benefit but and the but is - you need to be living in the new to you/offered property for this to be looked at.

This doesn't cover council tax, so you would be charged 100% council tax on the second property and not receive any tax relief on the second property - please be aware of this

Amazing news and yes it looks very good for you if you can provide everything they’ve asked for.
Are you going to go and walk past the property today to see what it’s like?

Aww how exciting, it could take a few week's, we had to wait a year to move into our. But that was exceptional circumstances due to the extensive work they needed to do.

They may repaint and do some improvements depending on the condition of the house and if things need updating. Also we had no flooring throught the upstairs and living room. So just be prepared for the cost.

I hope it all goes quickly they will check your rent account, you'll view the property, then they usually get you to sign a new tenancy and pay a first month's rent upfront if you want it. That's how it worked with us you don't really get time to decided it's there on the spot. Then they give you the key's all on the viewing day. I'd have a little nosey around the area check out the road and neighbours

In our area the top 3 bidders are invited to view on the same day…if number 1 likes it them affordability checks and references are done….if all good then a formal offer or property made…otherwise start again with number 2.
my friend was number 6 but still got the property as I assume bidders 1 to 5 failed somewhere along the line
good luck

Congratulations 🥳 I’m so pleased for you! All the time your rent is paid, you’ll never have to worry about another eviction notice ever again.

Get a notepad out and start making lists. Utilities, tv licence, gp’s surgery, schools, family & friends, insurance etc will all need updating and/or changing. Get down to your local supermarket or shop and see if they’ve got any boxes you can have. Start putting newspapers to one side to wrap plates etc in. It’s time to start going through toys etc and getting rid of anything that isn’t needed anymore.

That's amazing I'm so happy for you!

When I moved out of a bnb hostel to my council offered flat, I was told about it on the Tuesday, signed all forms in the office on the Friday and I got my keys a few weeks later after they put in a new bathroom and kitchen. I thought it was ready just to go the day I signed the docs but obviously I didn't realise they'd have to get it in all perfect condition for the next tenant first

Congratulations on your new home!!
I didn't have my door number either but when I knew it was empty I went round to the street and one of my new friendly neighbours told me which one it was :-)

Start looking on Freecycle, Freegle, Nextdoor, Olio etc for things to furnish your lovely new home. Be polite and prompt and the odd person may even deliver.

Great news! So happy for you OP! You’ve gotten great advice already just wanted to cheer you on. Good luck with the move

Mine took months to move into, the kitchen, bathroom, internal doors were all put in new as they were old/had holes where fists had been put through them.

The walls were grim and nicotine yellow, we sugar soaped and lined every room with insulating lining paper (this is £££ but makes a big difference to heating), and just painted every room white, personalisation came later as white is cheap and quick.

Be aware that council houses often suffer from damp, this is often because people have papered over vents to keep the heat in so you'll want to locate those or get some cheap room dehumidifiers in each room particularly if you'll dry clothes indoors in the winter.

The council don't tend to leave flooring incase it has fleas etc. Tapi does 0% interest. I like their Grande range it's thick, but posh laminate / lino so is soft and warm underfoot opposed to wood laminate and is easy to care for, the downside is heavy furniture can mark it. Prior to actually getting flooring down as DD was a toddler I bought a load of those Eva foam squares and used those instead.

It's exciting though, well done.

I have been waiting just over 3 years and came number 1 for a property on the 6th May. On the 8th May I received the formal offer letter and sent in the requested ID. I'm now having to wait for the property to be ready for viewing.

The property is currently empty and they have so far stripped out the kitchen and bathroom but nothing has been put back in yet. It appears to depend on the condition the property was left in and how much work needs doing before you can view it. I'm not anticipating a viewing for at least 3 weeks, but you can book removals in advance even without a confirmed date.

I have found a removal company who knows I don't have a date yet and allow you to book in advance then give you flexibility to change the date as you need to until you get the official moving date from the council.

It's massively exciting but I can see by the progress inside the property that it won't be ready for a while so I'm trying to not worry too much because I know it's already been offered to me and I'm going to be taking it.

I often noticed that properties I wasn't successful bidding on before seemed to still be empty weeks later but now I have a property waiting for me I can understand why nobody moves in for a while because every property is different and some need more work done than others before they can be let to a new tenant.

Good luck and enjoy your new home 🏡 x

Each council/housing association does different for redecorating. Some packs even have brushes and rollers in them.

Fingers crossed for you! Please post when you move in

I’d go and do a drive by on the property too. It’ll be obvious which one it is if people are moving out.

Super pleased for you. I’m in similar circumstances and I also work in housing.

What will happen next is it will either happen really fast or it’ll slow and then happen really fast! Lettings’s will look at your application, make an offer , do a viewing ( sometimes viewing then offer) and often they are then waiting for voids to say ready. Often it’s a Thursday afternoon it’s ready then a Friday sign up. They need to do any works, EICR and Gas safety check.

Best you can do is sort your stuff, discard what you don’t want, pack up as much as possible and rally any friends and family to be on standby.

Speak to the move on team about any support with rent in advance ( have they said it’s needed).

Do you need a cooker or other household items?

No advice but wanted to wish you all the best in your new home! 😘

Fantastic to see sometimes so positive @Summerpepsi32 😀 🥳
Get a look on fb marketplace for furniture/whitegoods in case you need any.

Tell the dc school as temp upheaval may affect a bit.
But YESSS!! Hurrah for you!!

If you're in receipt of housing benefit, you can claim HB for both properties on a cross over for up to 4 weeks. That would allow you to plan for things like painting, decorating, flooring and removals if you can manage it before you actually move I to the council property.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/claiming_benefits_for_two_homes

Also, the council can provide you with vouchers for decorating - it'll usually be a delivery of paint from Dulux or Johnstones as far as I'm aware. You'll need to buy brushes and rollers etc. You can pick the paint colours!