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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

999 replies

OMFFG · 16/02/2012 10:46

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?

OP posts:
Kayano · 16/02/2012 11:01

380 a month is cheap for a 3 bed even oop north.

Op hasn't actually said what the problem is with the flat... Other than it is (in capital letters) A FLAT and not A HOUSE.

I mean... Is it lack of space? (although 3 bed with 4 kids is fine IMO)
A roof over her kids heads?

Would op turn down a 3 bed house On same street?

I think op is flat-ist

That's right, she is an -ist Wink

HappyMummyOfOne · 16/02/2012 11:01

First post by the poster so presumably a windup.

If not, well it just shows the sense of entitlement people have nowadays. If you dont want a flat then feel free to turn it down and go and find a private rental.

Your choice to have four children, your responsibility to house and provide for them.

BupcakesandCunting · 16/02/2012 11:01

Meh.

My mum lives in a 3-bed council flat. It's nice and the rooms are big.

Why don't you go and look at it, OP? Might be quite nice. tries to ignore the fact that the OP hasn't come back

LilacWaltz · 16/02/2012 11:01

Op rent will be paid by housing benefit if they aren't working Confused

Garliccheesechips · 16/02/2012 11:01

Yup, tell them to shove it up their arse. Go and take your chances in the private market. You can check out how much a similar property will set you back here

Oh, and have a Biscuit

CardyMow · 16/02/2012 11:02

Bup - I am waiting for Social Housing. I feel that it IS justified to say WTfuckingF to the OP. Her notion of being able to turn DOWN a flat that 99.9% of people ON the housing list in her area would give their right arm and leg for is just, well, shocking.

And her and her dc will end up homeless if she DOES turn it down. I'd say that's monumental stupidity. She'd rather her dc were homeless as in on the streets homeless than accept this flat. WTF?!

PosiePumblechook · 16/02/2012 11:02

Peeps in checks the OP has actually fucked off......

Narrows eyes at mop and bucket...

torchpaper · 16/02/2012 11:02

Can you afford the rent you are paying now? If so then why dont you rent privately?

diddl · 16/02/2012 11:02

"Op hasn't actually said what the problem is with the flat."

MrsKittyFane · 16/02/2012 11:03

bupcakes
Are they "down of their luck " though?

manicinsomniac · 16/02/2012 11:03

If this is for real then YABVVVVU. Plenty of people would love to b ein your shoes. You are being offered decent accomodation for a very small price. What difference does it make if it's a flat or a house really?!

DinahMoHum · 16/02/2012 11:03

YABVU

if you want the pick of the market, dont ask for a council place

TitWillow · 16/02/2012 11:04

If you have only ever lived in a house, then The idea of a flat is probably bit off-putting, but it will be fine. It's a permanent home for your children. I'm raising my kids in a flat, and it's fine. Not ideal, but fine. And I pay private rent on it.

Take the flat, let the dust settle, and then make some long term plans.

CardyMow · 16/02/2012 11:04

Diddl - a balcony + a stairgate = no problem.

OnlyWantsOne · 16/02/2012 11:04

16 months is quite old TBH

why dunt yah pop anuva couple out and then I'm sure the fucking council will take you much more seriously.

LilacWaltz · 16/02/2012 11:05

If she accepts it then she could later arrange a mutual exchange anyway

Balconies will have passed safety tests and op can lock the doors if necessary! Just like stairgates and other safety measures

Kayano · 16/02/2012 11:05

Balconies?! Really?! Maybe she should watch the kids then or at least keep the doors
Locked? Lol.

Kids fall of balconies all the time... Hmm
Its mainly pissed adults I thought?

squeakytoy · 16/02/2012 11:05

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

I fail to see, how someone who is paying £875 a month in a privately rented property is actually "homeless" or even in need of a council property, flat, bungalow or any other type of building.

ChickensHaveNoLips · 16/02/2012 11:06

Dacre, is that you?

LilacWaltz · 16/02/2012 11:06

It's council emergency accom tho, it needs to be used for others

EauDeLaPoisson · 16/02/2012 11:07

See Bupcakes, it is actually helpful to read the OP before flaming everyone else for their valid resposes....

As for the OP well words fail me they really do, you need a home you've been offered a perfectly adequate one, just because it isnt exactly to your liking doesn't mean its not a perfectly suitable option. When you NEED a home you need a home you can't afford to be picky about how many floors said home comes on.

Ephiny · 16/02/2012 11:07

I guess this is probably a wind-up, but if not - as someone already said, many many families all over the world cope fine with children in flats. Lock the door or use a stairgate to keep the little ones off the balcony if you're worried.

And three bedrooms sounds fine for four kids, yes of course it would be nice if they could have a room each to themselves, but not many of us can afford five-bedroom houses!

Honestly if you were actually 'homeless' (which, by the way, is not a synonym for 'renting') I'd think you'd jump at the chance of a roof over your head. Up to you if you want to take it, but if you don't, you may be on your own to sort out an alternative, the council is not obliged to find you your dream home, only adequate accommodation.

MrsKittyFane · 16/02/2012 11:07

diddl are you sure that the OP is paying the £875? Hmm

Original poster
OMFFG · 16/02/2012 11:07

I was 4 months pregnant when we were made homeless.

OP posts:
CardyMow · 16/02/2012 11:07

I'll take the flat if you don't want it!! I currently have 4 dc in what is classed as a 2.5 bed house. The 0.5 bedroom is only big enough for a toddler bed. My almost 14yo, 5ft2 DD has to sleep in a TODDLER BED because her room is so small you can't fit a full-size single bed in there. Take my tiny shoe-box house that costs £522pcm to rent (which goes up to £622 in April), and I'll have the flat that you have been offered!