To turn down council property?

You are not desperate if you are turning down a property, are you?

OP said it was a flat in rough area, who would want to swap to that?!

If op is fussy about the area then she will get more choice with private rent.

The council won't take things like childcare, schools, being near family etc into account when offering a home.

The official line may be it won’t impact this time but must accept if offered again or lose your Banding.
But what will really happen next time a place comes up is that some one else will be prioritised as your need is clearly not that great.
Remember, It’s people (like me ) in a council office making the decisions not an algorithm - many of which know how to sift the real need for housing people from those who want it but only under certain conditions.

So why are people saying the OP shouldn’t get a council house if they can afford to pay private rent?

Don't private rent unless you think you'll be able to afford to buy in the near future

Depends which area, some (like mine) allow 3 refusals although I think this has dropped to 2... other areas don't allow any and you either take it or you're off the list.
Personally I would take it as you may not get another opportunity

Childcare is a temporary problem, a council flat will give you long term housing security with options down the line for things like housing swaps. Be very very sure you’ve thought about 3 years from now not just what’s happening today.

After a year could get on HomeSwap
sites and do exactly that.

Ask the council?

I knew a woman that turned down a council home because of the same reasons.
She went on to rent and the landlord asked her to leave 12 months later she found another let but the rent went sky high.
Moved back in with her mum.
It took 6 years from the day she said no to the first offer to get offered another H/A home and she did not turn it down.
You can always swap homes with someone after 12 months.

I live in a H/A flat and it took 5 years to get it and no money would get me to leave it either.
I was also offered my flat on a not so nice estate but over the years ive been here ive not had any problems tbh i really like it now.
So many people would grab that flat op and make it a home.
I know i would have many years ago due to having such wankers has landlords.
And being in private lets never felt like it was really mine.
Now for the past 10 years i have felt like i have a home that is mine.

The expectation would be that you take it especially if you are a Band A and therefore in ‘desperate need of housing’
Distance from parents, whether you like the area, proximity to child care or work, or kids may needing to move schools won’t come into it. Not with Social housing.
I doubt you will be offered a place again.
And to keep your Band A by rights you should be bidding on three properties a week in your local connection area and be prepared to accept any of them. Wherever they are.

Council housing was never intended to be just for the poor and desperate- it was originally for anyone who wanted it (typically the working classes).

However, since Right to Buy was introduced there is a severe shortage of social housing and councils are forced to prioritise who it goes to- usually those most in need. Once housed , your tenancy can be either for a fixed period or for life.

In recent years, rents have shot up- private far more than social- so it is entirely possible that someone can afford social rent but not private.

Council housing isn't just for poor people.

Many people are working and living in Council housing.

It's secure accommodation, and you don't have to give it up even if you were millionaire. It's not weird, everyone deserves a secure home.

OP - council house is more secure than renting privately. If you accept it you may be able to swap later on

not from the Uk so just wanting to understand how this works.

so if you don’t have the money to private rent you may be eligible for council housing.
but then in a year’s time you are in a great job, do you then surrender the council house? Or can you end up with people earning really good money in council housing that they got when they were poor?
if this is the case then is that not a bit weird?

If you need a specific location then I think you need to accept you’ll have to rent privately. That’s the downside of a social tenancy: you have to take what’s available, not what you’d ideally choose. If you’re allowed to reject the offer without penalty - and you need to check that with the council - there’s no guarantee the next one is going to be preferable, and you won’t be allowed to continue rejecting offers.

If you’ve got the money to rent, then rent. You’ll be unlikely to get a council property in the exact area you want, that’s the right size and that’s acceptable to you.

If you don’t need it and can private rent then turn it down by all means but you go back to the bottom of the list.

She has the money to private rent...

Ask the council. They will have a current policy. Each council will be different. Some may put you to the bottom of the list. Others let you reject one property before accepting one. Find out.

I can totally see your predicament with childcare. You need to speak to them to see what would happen if you turn it down.

Private renting is an absolute nightmare. At least a council property is secure, rent won’t be extortionate and your landlord won’t decide to sell up. Plus you can decorate it to your taste.

How far is it from your parents?

If you can privately rent, then presumably you don’t need the council property? So problem solved?

Speak to your housing officer they will be able to advise you of the process in your area.

Down here you do not get a choice - if you are eligible for a property and are offered one that is suitable for your needs - you take it.
if you turn it down that's it ! you are off the bidding list. Doesn't matter if you bed for it or you are offered it as a result of automatic bidding or if you are offered it as a direct let.

Good luck to you if you feel private renting is affordable in the long term and if you believe it will give you long term security of a roof over your head - many landlords end tenancies for many reasons, you could privately rent somewhere and in one years time be looking all over again.