Council Flat - is this allowed or will I be breaking rules

[cakemiddletonedeaf]

I’m a council tenant in a two bedroom flat in a good area but extremely run down block and flat.

I don’t expect getting a mortgage and would ideally do a swap but no one wants high rise so I’m staying here.

This flat needs a make over - new floors, doors, wallpaper. I can keep the bathroom and kitchen cupboards but these would need some work too.

I’m expected to get inheritance (from family in another country) + I just got promoted on my job and on track to get promoted again by the end of the year which would then give me the experience and skills to go become an independent contractor and earn a lot more if I choose to + a boyfriend willing to chip in financially (he lives in his own house but has no dependants so some money to spare)

My idea is to:

• get rid of all my furniture - not a lot and everything old, battered and 2nd hand since I moved so many times
• move out to nearby rented accomodation with DD for a few months taking only clothes and devices and personal stuff (again, we dont have a lot of things at all, we are very frugal)
• get the work done in an empty flat at once
• move back in and slowly buy furniture again starting from fridge/cooker/ washing machine and maybe get some credit - pay in instalmments (I usually save and pay full amount outright but again I never bought brand new big ticket items)

My questions are:

1- Would this be allowed under council tenancy regulations? I know I have permission to redecorate the flat, but moving out temporarily while the work is being carried out, is this allowed?
I will not change my name on the utilities on the new address and will probably rent a room on a shared home.

2- Is this a good idea and has anyone done this before? I see on the swap groups, some council properties are so beautiful inside, how do ppl manage to do work and live at the same place is a mystery to me…maybe easier if it is DIY but I will need professionals. And my place is so small, there is no space to move furniture around and live a normal life with me, DD, workmen…plus I WFH too.

Also within the next 2 years, the council will redecorate the block communal areas/replace windows etc so the outside will look better too.

As others have said, you move furniture around the flat while the work is being done.

I'm planning on replacing the floor coverings in a one bed flat, and my thinking is simply to do one room at a time. So, move living room furniture into bedroom and kitchen, replace flooring in living room, then move furniture back in along with bedroom furniture, do bedroom flooring, etc. Finish with bathroom then hallway.

If you're going to be replacing furniture then that makes it easier. Time the work so it happens after old furniture gone and before new furniture arrives.

Because I’m not moving in with a child to my boyfriend’s house in a completely different area 45m away from school.

Also we are not moving together period. I like my space and he likes his.

If it was an emergency fine but it is a choice.

When I done my small 1 bed flat, I got rid of the bed, the chest of drawers, bedside tables etc. Put the mattress in the middle of the floor and clothes in bags which lived in the hallway. The wardrobe was too big to be moved out but I emptied it to make it light enough to be moved around as necessary.
The floorers are very used to working about bits of furniture but you should always ask them. Of course they'd prefer the room to be completely empty, but they're OK generally with doing half a room, moving the furniture over to done half and continuing.

And have a bloody good declutter before you start anything. Be ruthless. If you haven't used it in 12 months it's out.

The one promotion that happened took me from 23K to 30K.
The next one is only a promise.

Do I seem rich enough to rent a two bedroom as a single parent in London?

Firstly I doubt it would be an issue if you moved out for a week or 2. It’s no different from going on holiday. I’m not sure how redecorating a 2 bedroom flat would take longer than that.

As to how people do it without moving out, they do it a bit at a time usually.

Bit more challenging if you want to do all your floor for example at the same time, but I’d probably get rid of the furniture you don’t want anyway and pile the rest in the bathroom/kitchen or hire a storage unit?

I assume you don’t have anyone you can stay with, rather than renting somewhere?

Ignore. You need security of social housing. People are being evicted left right and centre from private rent.

When you say new flooring do you mean.as I'm new floor boards etc or do you mean carpet /laminated flooring etc ?

I agree with other people. Moving out for a few months into a short term rent will cost alot of money. That could be money towards the improvements you want to make. Could also help you avoid getting stuff on credit.

Room wise store all the stuff into one room . Stack on top of each each other. You will find away . You will save so much money

You'll probably need to get permission from the council if you are going to change doors, floors etc as this is beyond decorating. Also ask them if there are any planned housing stock upgrades like new kitchens or bathrooms coming up.

Thank you!!
That is helpful to know.

It say on my tenancy it mustn't be unoccupied for more than 28 consecutive days.

What type of flooring are you thinking of? If not carpet, then think of your neighbours below!

Just move out if that suits you, it could be a long holiday couldn't it otherwise? Just leave everything in your name, pay your rent and your bills and enjoy your refurbished home eventually. You will be dropping back and forth anyway so any nosy neighbours will know you are still there anyway.

OP my DH and I live in a small council bungalow.
We have decorated throughout, put in a new bathroom and kitchen, and we did it gradually.

You just have to put up with chaos for the few weeks that this is going on.

I know it sounds impossible but you will manage, believe me.

Your ideas sound lovely and your home is going to look wonderful.

And as I found out, when ordering a carpet, if you go down that route, if it comes on a roll, chances are you won't be able to fit it in a lift or take it up stairs.
You can however request the shop fold it for you, still heavy, but you can fit it a lift.

I have already asked since I wanted to know if they could do it themselves and they said I’m allowed

Also the only upgrades coming up are external not internal - a part from windows.

Exactly. As soon as someone says they have a council or HA property all the jealousy and spite starts. OP decorate and smarten up your flat however you choose. It’s your home to make as lovely as possible and with an inheritance you can have it looking fab x

And I took a two weeks off work to get it done. I was doing it by myself with a professional in for the flooring and lighting.
Only I got pneumonia on day 2 which wiped me out for a week so I was behind schedule.
Ended up finishing the bits on my lunch (also wfh) and cheekily doing some painting when work was quiet.

Do it one room at a time. So start with your daughter's bedroom. Get rid of the furniture, decorate, new carpet, new furniture in, next living room and so on

I just wouldn't tell the council that I'm moving out for a few weeks. They won't know especially if you don't get your mail redirected. Just go ahead OP

Unless there's a problem with the existing floors or you're having expensive flooring like parquet flooring installed. Most people live round new floors being installed.

IMO putting in a new carpet in one room takes most carpet fitters an hour or two. Perhaps more if they have to work round / move your furniture. They typically charge a little extra if the room is furnished. Complicated carpeting such as a strip up the middle of a curved staircase takes longer - but it doesn't sound like you have this.

Wooden flooring might take a day or so rather than an hour.

How bug is your flat?

I had no idea it could be done so quickly🤦🏼‍♀️

From experience, if the council are about to replace the windows, you'll have to gut the rooms anyway - and there's likely to be no point in redecorating before then as they could easily ruin it in the process.

Save the money, keep it safe and then you can do the decorating room by room (I recommend doing your bedroom first so you have a calm retreat from the chaos) and not fall foul of 'it's been empty for weeks, she's moved in with her boyfriend' issues with the tenancy and any benefits you may claim - or acquiring squatters/vandals.

I read your long post (wish I hadn’t bothered though given the rude tone of your reply). As I said it doesn’t take 3 months to put flooring in a flat unless you’re importing marble from Greece.

Basically camp out for a weeks, share a bedroom with DD if needed.

Get rid of as much stuff and furniture possible.

Consider renting storage or leave stuff at partners??

Decorate lounge/kitchen/small room then put flooring down.

Switch to camping out in lounge. Decorate and then floor large bedroom and bathroom.

I’d wait until after the new windows have been fitted. Definitely no need to move out. It would be a huge expense that could be used for your decorating or new furniture. It will also be near impossible to rent a room in a shared house with a child.

Part of my job is supporting people dealing with the council & council properties and I know for our local ones, this would not be okay.

Check your specific tenancy agreements of course but all for our local council do specify that you must not be living elsewhere for more than 28 consecutive days.

Honestly it will not be an issue to live amongst it, they go room to room and it will just be a case of moving things around.

The other thing to consider if you are in receipt of UC (not sure if you are but just something to think about) then receiving an inheritance may well affect that, and if so you will have to be careful in spending it because you could be seen to be deliberately depriving yourself of the money in order to continue claiming UC which is not allowed.