Refusing a council house offer

[Crystal1970]

Hi, I have been in temporary housing for 4 years now during that time I was allowed to bid on 4 bed houses and advised when asked I wasn’t allowed to bid on 3 bed ones, the council have now visited and said we have found a suitable property for you it is a 3 bed house 🤔 one bedroom being a box room, I have 3 sons who are not small kids now I don’t mind 2 sharing a room but someone i know has said all you will get in the box room is a single bed . Now can I refuse this as jot being suitable I think it was under section 8 so if I refused they wouldn’t help me anymore.

I wouldn’t refuse. You have all sons and it isn’t a requirement to have separate bedrooms or four bedrooms as they can share. You’ll also be expected to use a living room as bedroom like many families that are living in overcrowding houses do. You also run the risk of waiting even longer.

The lounge isn’t big enough to use as a bedroom though, but how can they expect to live in tiny bedrooms where you can not even store your own clothes it’s crazy as all along they were saying you can only bid on 4 bed houses yet they offer a tiny 3 bed

@Crystal1970 I understand your frustration but just have a good think before you decide. My brother, his wife and four kids had to wait five years to get a three bed property. They ended up having to move in with their in laws for a few years, so despite 8 people living in a three bed house they weren’t considered as overcrowded because the council considered the sitting room as a bedroom.

My kids were looking to buy and when I went with them to viewings, just about all of the properties had people using the sitting/lounge room as a bedroom. Most were actually set up as a bedroom, not even a lounge that doubled as a pull out bed, there was no tv etc. Guess people now just sit on their bed and watch tv on their phone? The vast majority of what we viewed was private rental stock but there were a few owner occupier ones and they did not seem immune to having the lounge room taken over as a bedroom either. Seems as though it’s becoming really common now in any city/metro area.

Take the 3 bed, you might be able to exchange afterwards.

Why on earth do you think a room that will only get a single bed in is not suitable for one of your sons?

Why do you think you are entitled to the government supplying you with a large house???

You can get creative- it’s a foot in the door and a secure roof over your heads, you could be waiting years and years for a 4 bed, there’s literally hardly any stock left. Push comes to shove you can have 3 boys sharing one room- a set of bunk beds and a single, then put rails in the box room and use it as a walk in wardrobe for them. You can always do an exchange at a later date. I know plenty of people who’ve upsized that way.

If your 3 sons are not small kids then presumably it won't be too long before they are going to uni or even potentially moving out. I don't see why you'd consider not taking the house when it would mean a secure roof over your head and stability for your family just because you think one of the rooms is a bit small.

While I agree with the previous comments, I do also agree with the OP questioning why she wasn't allowed to bid for three-bedroom houses and now, suddenly, is offered one. If you refused this one, would you know be able to bid for three-bedroom ones in the future? Have the rules around that changed?

High bunk with stuff underneath in box room.

Stop being so ungrateful. If you are not happy with what the council are offering, then sort yourself out in private rent.

I own a 3 bed house, bedroom 3 is tiny, 9ft x 6ft but has a single bed, single wardrobe and desk, DS lived in that room for 29 years.

Because that's the council house system. It's not like she's being "given" it.

Maybe if the government had a fit for purpose national housing policy people wouldn't be in this situation. Not least when their life implodes. You have no idea why she needs a council house in the first place.

Not everyone is privileged or financially well off enough to live in a house where every child gets their own room.

You have been offered a suitable place to live. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Take the house.

In your shoes I would take the single room. I only sleep in my room, kids spend most of their time in them..

Housing is tough I shared with dd till she was 13 and then I had a bed in the lounge. You have to make do.

I’d take the house, you’re being offered a 3 bed house which many people would love. You’re in temporary accommodation so presumably can afford to private rent, and if you turn this down you may not get any house or may be waiting a very long time. As you say, two DS can share so there is enough rooms.

I mean with the property prices in my area pretty much everyone I know who has bought has gotten a small flat - we have 2 bedrooms 2 kids, they are piled into small room with bunk beds - I have to store all kids clothes in our room as there isn’t storage for it in their room so it’s pretty tight on space and I have a chest of drawers shoved into a corner in my hallway with clothes too! Have to make the most of any space I can find / get creative. It’s pretty standard and how a lot of people live op.

I’ve gotten beds with drawers underneath to help with storage

get a sofa bed in living room

surely it’s better than temp accommodation

It’s worth clarifying what you are eligible for on your council policy, but with three boys on most councils it would only be three bed. Sounds like the error was previously rather than now.

I’d try get this moved to housing rather than AMA

Lots of people have box bedrooms, you get a cabin or loft bed and store things underneath, get creative. This is adequate house for your family size and 4 beds are much harder to get.
I would question why you were told you couldn’t bid on 3 beds but are now being offered one though.

A three bed house Wil have two double bedrooms and a single bedroom. Put the smallest child in there.
we have a box room obviously they vary in size but we got a small double bed in there and a book case and we put up shelving. Ds clothes went in a wardrobe in my room. We also stored stuff under his bed. When eldest dd moved out he got her room.

A box room is just a generic term for a small bedroom, and they can vary in size. Some are tiny, others are big enough for a wardrobe. Don’t discount it until you’ve seen it. ( and lots of kids sleep in box rooms, or could you take this room?).

🙄 a lot of people don’t have adequate housing / any support for them or their families. You are being offered a safe place for you and your family likely without any / little financial input and you are worrying about the room sizes? Without trying to be rude, you need some perspective.

Surely this is better than temporary accommodation? Honestly I don’t think you’re in a position to be fussy, though less than ideal it should be policy that if you refuse you go to the bottom of the list. If you want a mansion then you need to get yourself the means to buy one!