I do think it's very short-sighted to boast about your situation when there are lots of people who are equally in need who would give their eye-teeth for the house/flat you've been offered.
Our story is this:
2003 - move in to 3 bed private rental.
2005, 2007 - give birth to two girls.
July 2009 - find out I was pregnant with DD3; DD1 falling over lots - GP says 'virus'.
September 2009 - DD1's preschool suggest assessment as 'slightly behind' - assessed and 1:1 support offered. "Diagnosis" - slightly immature.
Early October 2009 - DD1 falling over for no reason again. Fast-tracked to hospital. Seen by Registrar, decided to keep us overnight. "Think you're going to be here a lot...."
Late October -Results of tests returned. Global development delay, epilepsy. CT scan clear.
April 2009 -MRI; DD3 born.
May 2009 - Results of MRI - diffuse cortical dysplasia.
January 2010 - Statement of SEN. Place at Special School confirmed.
Feb 2011 - It's clear that this house is unsuitable for DD1. She is still using a potty during the day because there is no downstairs toilet. She has no sense of danger with behavioural difficulties. It's impossible for me to take the children to the park on my own. We have a very small back garden. DH has to work part-time to allow for compressed hours in holidays to support with DD1.
Every house we applied for left us at position 130 on the list.
We applied for housing, and ticked the 'this property is unsuitable' box. We are invited to a 'housing needs' appointment. A young girl (age about 20) sits before us with a stony face, saying "everyone gets someone to write in to say they need a bigger house. A house in your town comes up every 5 to 10 years. You've got very little chance of getting anything - I suggest private rental."
We explain that we wouldn't be able to adapt a private let to keep DD1 safe. We are living in a house my Uncle owns (he is a bona fide landlord) so can adapt the house. We have an electromagnetic lock on the door, stairgates everywhere, acrylic glass on the bannisters (she was climbing through them, and has poor balance).
July 2011 - finally an OT comes to see us. She is horrified when she sees DD1 (DD1 was having a bad day) and the house we are living in. She arranges Band 2 prioritisation (1 being 'if we don't move you you'll die, 2 you need to move ASAP, 3 most other people, 4 you can sort yourself out if you want to, 5 you've abused housing in the past, etc).
February 2012 - 3 bed house in our town is listed. It has a wet room upstairs which would be helpful.
We finished 3rd in the bidding, but we are offered the property based on DD1's needs. The property needs lots doing to it. Work finished today on the structure.
So,
We had an offer letter today. We have to take the keys on Monday. We will be charged from Monday for rent. Our tenancy here doesn't finish until April 2nd. We have to either move in there and ask them to cover the remaining tenancy here, or pay for both tenancies for two weeks overlap.
The whole house is in need of decoration. All rooms are papered but the paper is very old and torn in every room. The council lady said 'it's in a terrible state'. But, they have offered us £380 worth of vouchers as a 'token gesture' towards the decoration.
I am so grateful. Ok, the downstairs toilet doesn't even have plaster on the walls (it's just brieze block), the kitchen is teeny (5 units in total) but it's a house with a large garden - perfect for DD1's needs. We will have to pay for the carpeting, fencing of the garden (DD1 has to be in secure grounds unless 1:1 supervision - she escapes), etc., but we have a home that is suitable (once adapted) and a secure tenancy.
I wouldn't moan about that for the world.