Should I accept council property

[feeelion]

I have been offered a council property. Not sure if I should accept. It has a small garden (which I don't mind) on the ground floor, one double bedroom, and a single bedroom (which is very small) and an open plan kitchen. The downside is that it's a 20 minute walk to the nearest bus stop and train station. I have a disabled DC- who I'm
Concerned may be targeted/vulnerable as he goes to school by himself

Are you happy to live with family indefinitely? Are they happy for you to live with them?

If no then you need to take the flat.

I would take it as apart from the bus stop being 20 mins away which may be an issue depending on your dc's disability it sounds pretty good. Also the fact that it is a ground floor flat with a garden means if you don't like it there you should be able to do a home swap pretty easily as where I am ground floor flats are the most sought after on the homeswap site.

Only you know what houses and flats are coming up on your council's list so do you have a rough idea of how long you might be waiting if you turn this down?

If you decide to refuse this property then bear in mind that you might have a wait for another suitable property. I would also suggest that you do a bit of research before you place a bid. I used to work in social housing and we gave good descriptions of the property and what facilities were nearby. If yours don't then you might want to have a look round the area and make sure it's right for you. We didn't mind being asked about the layout of the property either. Of course where you are might be different. On another note, 2 beds were in very short supply, so think carefully.

You need to check the housing allocation policy for your area, are you allowed to turn down the property without being suspended from the housing list?

If you turn down this property will you have to accept the next property offered? Aside from the distance to transport what is the local area like? There is always some type of compromise.

You have a disability within the household and you have been offered a ground floor flat with a garden. Unsure what the disability is but look into mobility scheme, if you qualify you could drop dc to bus stop.

Thank you everyone.

I was worried because I'm a single female and I come back from work quite late- and when you walk to the flat, it's not like your walking up the main road for 20 minutes. It's very residential, so I have to walk past a row of houses, flats, to get home.

But DC and I are going to go back and check the area in the dark and see what it's like to walk up there and then I'll make up my mind.

If you are 100% sure it will not put you down the list for anything in future, then say no. Any doubt, I think you should take it.

Your decision to visit in the dark is a good one.

What's your concern about walking past residential properties? Re DC would they be entitled to school transport?

Why would you be scared to leave him in the house? Is it a particularly rough/dangerous area?

I think I would feel safer being in a built up area rather than walking a long road without neighbours nearby. Knock on some doors in the area ask them what it's like to live there. Look at crime statistics and compare to where you are residing at the moment. It'll be hard to find a place that ticks all the boxes and I suppose it depends on what sacrifices you are willing to make.

I would take it, it would be nice to have some outside space.

How have you got this property.
Via the homeless route or just as a normal waiting list applicant or because of your sons disability.
If via homeless you usually have one reasonable offer and if you refuse you lose your homeless status and the priority that brings.

If as a normal waiting list applicant you can refuse - but be careful not to do it too many times as they may suspend your app for a few months. That’s what my council does .

If you got offered it via the medical priority route and you consider the property is not suitable (eg can your son not walk that far, would he be in pain or at risk) then you need to speak to the medical team at housing and see what they say. You can have a medical reviewed .
In our council , for example, if the medical says shower necessary , you couldn’t have a place with a bath even if it was your dream house. You have to go with what the doctor has said. You need to know the wording of the medical decision and this will help you.

What area are you in? Council properties come up very, very rarely in some areas but in others (in the North, where I am) much more frequently

I’m meant to be offered a property I’m in full statutory homeless band but I have arrears ( no fault of my own was a mix up when I had to flee the house to temp address) which I am paying back on a payment plan every month as I was a previous tenant with same housing landlord, this house that I bid on is with the same housing landlord but the housing lady rang me and said there was work that had to be done because my ex partner decided to put a conservatory on the property took a wall and window out to do it the lady from the housing said the case is with her manager to make a decision if I can be offered the property because the housing had to rectify this back to putting a wall in a window and knock the conservatory down she then said would I be willing to clear the amount off which she said worked out a total of £5000 I told her I never wanted that conservatory putting up but he did it anyway without permission he was on the tenancy agreement too but we split up and he moved out so I put the tenancy in just my name really hope me and my children can get this house as we have been in emergency accommodation since January due to fleeing DV from most recent ex partner can anyone help me please with what might happen with this offer? 🙏