Offered council house in a not very good area?

Would a family member or friend be willing to act as a guarantor for a private rental? It's quite a big ask, though.

If I moved the job opportunities would be endless and I would be [able] to get full time work.

I would have more time to myself as I would have more help with the kids.

OP, these seem like really good reasons for taking the place you've been offered - even if (as pp have said) you're just using it as a "stepping stone" on your way to a better place.

Good luck!

It's up to you tbh I have a housing association £850 a month with the roughest neighbours you can imagine no one will swap here because people know how bad it is

What does any of it matter? Take it and if you hate it private rent. Since the only other option is….private rent….i don’t get the conundrum

Just take it and keep yourself to yourself. Trouble only follows if you let it in
Get a dog if you feel safer and cctv
You can save up and then move to somewhere else or see about a swap to another HA property
Ask on FB about the street specifically
You'd be nuts to refuse tbh

Take it, keep yourself to yourself. Install CCTV. After a year or however long you can look for a mutual transfer.

@rhinnq We've been privately renting for a decade - husband works ft but I work 4 days a week term-time and it's never been a problem for any of our landlords. The rent is always paid on time.

@rhinnq Streetcheck might be a good start. Input postcode and there is also a section to check out crime stats and a nap with pins for where crimes committed( street etc)

'I think I will have to go and see the area again in both day and night time to get a better feel, maybe book a weekend stay close by and see how I feel.'

How long do you get given to decide ? down here it's around 24 hours. Certainly not long enough to book a weekend to visit the area.

Take it. And if you find it isnt suitable then move into private rented accommodation. Can't see how the rent won't be cheaper than private. Council rents are usually heavily subsidised.

@rhinnq could you give it a try? You might use it as a stepping stone and be able
to find full time work and then move? And if it gives a bad experience would the council not be more
sympathetic about keeping you on the list for
an alternative?

Take it. It's a no brainer.

Taking this house will get you back to the broad area you want to live, where you will have support from friends and family and the ability to get full-time work.

If the house works out, great. If not, you will be in a position where you can be competitive for a private rental. You won't achieve that by staying where you are and you will have no prospect of a council house in the future.

I'm sorry you've experienced DV.

Does your OH work full time and contribute to the household costs ? Why can’t he take on a private rental if you can’t pass referencing ?. You speak as if it is only your income being taken in to account.

Just wow, so entitled

If you moved there would it enable you to save more quickly to move into private rent? If so then perhaps you can reframe it as a stepping stone.

Are you able to check for complaints against the neighbours regarding anti-social behaviour?

Beggars can't be choosers unfortunately.

I worked in council housing once upon a time. Blew my mind how selective homeless people can be.

NW….my son pays 380 for his 1 bed flat

If you have a partner, much better to rent privately and choose a safe area to live. I originally thought it was just you on a part time salary.

Take the house. Use it as a stepping stone. Make a plan to use this opportunity to get yourself into a position ASAP where you can rent privately in a better area.

You’ll be nearer fiends and family
You can get a full time job
You can get more help with rent from UC

The last two alone will help you save up to get another place. And having friends and family around will help with childcare, support etc…. Maybe this is what other tenants have done hence why it comes available.

And there is always the swap option.

It doesn’t sound like there is any other way you are going to be able to move back. You can’t pass reference checks without a full time income . You can’t get a full time job where you live now. If you don’t take this what is your plan to change your situation if you don’t take this house? You’ll be taken off the HA waiting list. Lots of landlords aren’t doing the rent up front thing anymore with the new renters rights thing coming in. You’re going to be stuck where you are indefinitely. Unless you are OK with that, grab this chance with both hands.

I agree with @mumofoneAloneandwell - it sounds like this new place would tick a lot of boxes and the consequences of refusing it would be bad. You’re not happy where you are - you and your DCs are lonely and a bit isolated and you have limited job prospects which would be better in the new place. If you refuse, you will be removed from the waiting list (which perhaps your friends don’t realise or don’t care about).

Nothing in life is perfect. If you move and it really doesn’t work out, you could perhaps look to move again but it sounds like it would be a big mistake to turn down this house.

Girl you are overthinking yourself into a spiral

You have only one option, the decision is made for you

Take it. End of.

Take it and then try to swap or move later on. At least you’ll be on the system.

I got offered a property with a lot of downsides to it (the main one being that it was pretty much on par with the rent I was paying privately) and for a long time I regretted it because frankly it’s depressing.

But then Covid hit, rent prices keep shooting up and for all its downsides, I’m safe here. I don’t know how I’d be affording anything right now with the cost of living crisis if I was still renting privately.

tl;dr - take it as a precautionary measure

In that case, TAKE IT and dont delay for a second more!

Dont worry about the area, this is better than living in unstable rentals at the whim of a landlord xxx