to be pissed off with being offered a council FLAT instead of a HOUSE?

[OMFFG]

We have 4 DCs, youngest 16 months and they think this is suitable!! The flat is 3 bedrooms and on the 2nd floor of a small tower block and has balconies which I would be pretty worried one of the DCs may fall out of.

This is my worst frigging nightmare. We have been 'homeless' for almost 2 years and the council have housed us in temporary accommodation (private rented) which we have to pay market value for (£875 per month) even though we did not choose it and it's a complete shit hole. We could not leave as we would lose our priority on the council bidding list. We lost our house when DH was made redundant and could not afford to pay £1200+ to privately rent.

Now after all this they have offered us a fucking flat. I am furious because every week until last week, there were only offering 3 bed houses but we would always be 3/4 on the list. Now that a flat was offered, less people have bid on it so we got to the top of the list. I did not even bid on it, the council did. Apparently they can bid on 'our behalf' as we are homeless and if we refuse this flat, we will be taken off the housing list. How the hell will we cope in a flat???

The rent is 'only' £380 a month but a house would only be £20 a month more.

AIBU to tell them to stuff it up their arses?

ah ok, so we're mindreading from text now? Is there an app for that or do you have a natural ability?

anyway back to the whole point of the thread I still think you are being silly to not consider the flat in the mean time least it will give you somewhere to live untill you can get back on your feet , L A houses really are like hens teeth these days ,

mrsjay i think you'll find if you read the thread lots if posters including myself have said that council housing is great for those in need, and there are plenty of people in the UK who need council housing, they are not scum, they are people who have found themselves in a situation and requre help and safety.
The OP doesnt seem to fit in the above and seems to feel entitled to exactly what she wants

paranoid you do love a good scrap dont you , yes i have superpowers I can read peoples minds

Would I hang around AIBU if I didn't?

I have reported my own post its going to be removed sigh I didnt say all i said some people think like that

no need to remove it!

mrsjay I agree with you tbh , a lot of people on this thread have no idea how the points system works or anything about social housing , other than what they have heard from the bloke down the road and the media idea of the more kids you have the bigger the house you get etc

They should read OpinionatedMums link

I'm commenting on the fact that the op doesn't want a flat there's nothing wrong with raising children in a flat. You do not need a garden, you do not need somewhere to put a trampoline.

I do have a temp of 40 at the moment do am perhaps raving

I've known a few people in 3 bedroomed council/tower block flats and they are pretty roomy. I'd be worried about the balcony too, but to be fair the housing offer doesn't sound entirely unreasonable and there are ways and means around the balcony issue.

Just think of the money you would save and the fact that (fingers crossed) you have long term security of tenure.

I honestly think you would be MAD to turn the flat down in the current economic climate.

I agree with the people who said we need more social housing, and it shouldn't be just for people who are homeless/unemployed. It was a lifeline for many a family on low/average incomes in the past. Actually we don't just need social housing, we need regulation of private rentals, rent control and affordable housing across the board.

I think the way SOME people have spoken about council tenants on this thread does show they think they are beneath homeowners.
They are not, they pay their way like anyone else. Many WORK and PAY RENT. It' is inaccurate to call it subsidised housing because:

IN APRIL COUNCIL HOUSING WILL HAVE PAID OFF IT's DEBT TO GOVT AND IS CHEAPER BECAUSE IT IS RUN ON A NOT FOR PROFIT BASIS.

AGAIN

maybe scum is a bit of a strong word to use , anyhoo yes people do hear about miss thingy down the road with 10 kids getting everything thats going 2 houses knocked into one and assume that everybody is like that ,

are we allowed to think the OP is unreasonable if we understand the system, and have personal experience of it? OR do we have to join the correct team as prescribed?
The "how dare you say a word against tenants/benefit claimants/whatever" types are just as bad as the "you're all on the fiddle/scroungers/DM etc" types. Polar opposites but equally misguided.

You don't have to have a specific 'need' for social housing..... mosschops you do know that don't you?? You could pop yourself on the lust same as mr, op and everyone else on this thread.....tthete us no Barr to applying.

Lust?? Clearly I meant 'list' !!

I think you will find I'm always right actually

Can I be on the lust list please

Sorry if i repeat anything that has all ready been said,i have only quickly read the other posts.

OP i think you have two choices.

1.Take the flat and make it a happy home.Then has soon as allowed go back on the waiting list.
Where i live its two years,before you can go back on the list.But when you have a council property,its easier to get another property.

2.Don't take the flat.But then you will be given x amount of time to move out.
You will then have to pay higher rent,to live in a private let house.

I lived in a 3 bed council flat for two years,with three DC.Then i went back on the waiting list and was given extra points,because i had children in a flat.I only waited afew week and was given a house.
For what its worth the flat was bigger then the house.It had same amount of rooms but they were bigger.Plus neighbours were more friendly. HTH

paranoid i know people who fiddle benefits and i think its disgusting and im glad they are caught , people are assuming that people in social housing are avoiding rent or of subsidised living , i do think people need to know a bit about what they are talking about not just the horror stories, I am against criminals as the next person ,

pop yourself on the lust. Lilac, that made me chuckle

Anyone on this thread who relies on tax credits to pay their bills/mortgage etc is in no position to moan about people in social/council housing.

To clarify

Sorry, don't know where that random 'to clarify' came from

2.Don't take the flat.But then you will be given x amount of time to move out.
You will then have to pay higher rent,to live in a private let house.

rightround, what happens if they don't move out? Will they be evicted by the council and then end up back on emergency housing?

waiting 2 years on a council waiting lust would be fun..

And just to add,DH and myself work.DD1 is a student nurse and DD2 is at college.The 3 younger DC are still at school.
You don't have to be out of work,to have a council property.
In fact when council housing were first built you had to work,to get a house.They were and still are for people with a low income.