UPDATE on to be pissed off I have been offered a council FLAT instead of a house?

[OMFFG]

Thought I would update on my previous thread as you were all so sympathetic and concerned for me .

We have taken the flat and will move in tomorrow. We have no choice and will be unable to be put on the transfer list for a year and will then probably have to wait a further 2/3 years for a house to come up.

The flat is on the (top) 2nd floor of a small block. We are 'lucky' in that the block is being upgraded and they have put in new windows/balcony doors/front doors and replaced all the railings around the two balconies. There is one off the kitchen and one off the lounge. The flat is very light and airy (although was stinky) and DH has painted/bleached it to within an inch of it's life and it is now presentable. There was decent laminate floor down already and it has a recently fitted kitchen, new toilet!! and almost new radiators. We did not found any mould/damp at all which we were very impressed by! The DCs rooms are big enough and mine and DH's is much bigger than our current one.

There are 18 flats in the block in all and every 3 flats (Grd/1st/2nd floor) gets to share a reasonable sized gated garden that each overlooks. We all have large sheds as well so the trampoline and bikes can all get stored in there.

The block seems quite quiet. I am a bit meh about it now. I am hoping there will be other DCs in there that mine can play with and I will be quite happy. We have a very large town park/farm/paddling pool area within 10 mins walk. DD's sec school is walking distance and her mates live around the corner.

We have worked out that after paying rent on this, we will have over £2100 a month to live on! That is with just DH working. I can decide if I want to go back to work or not probably after the summer when DC4 is 2.

I have probably been worried for nothing and am looking forward to getting back on track and saving for a new house of our own.

Thanks to the council and all those who sent their good wishes .

I think most people are just a bit that the flat the op was told on the other thread would absolutely fine has unsurprisingly turned out to be absolutely fine.

£500 a week for a family isn't masses anyway! It soon goes. I don't understand the hate either it is like if you live in council housing you must also struggle to live or you are not the full package!

Wind up.

They owned their home then became homeless after her DH was made redundant. The council rehoused them and they are going to use their disposable income to buy their own home again someday. I DON'T GET THE PROBLEM.

Private rented is shit for families as you can get moved on at the whim of the landlord. Do people want that for children that have already been uprooted once? Or do people just hear social hosing and disposable income in the same sentance and get jealous and lose all capacity for reasoning??

Her dp does work and if shes got a council flat , and lets face it half of MN would have a fit of the vapours if they had to live on a council estate , good luck to her I say.

breatheslowly - but if all social housing was rented out at market rates, in many areas (London at least) it would be unaffordable to families with the parents in full-time but low-paid work, who would then be eligible for Housing Benefit top-ups to ensure they could afford to pay their rent.

That would be subsidised housing, in a sense - but simply renting out homes at an affordable amount to working people isn't subsidised housing.

MyNameIsntFUCKINGWarren it would make more sense to question why there is a shortage of affordable housing, and who benefits from it.

I live in herts (second most expensive place to live after London) and believe me it costs loads. She doesn't say it's after bills, just after rent so all her other bills have to come out of that and I know how much 4 kids costs. Bet if she put after all her bills and other living cost it would be about £75-100 left.

I am in social housing so am hardly eaten up with jealousy. Am frankly just amazed that the OP needs affordable housing tbh. I work with families waiting for housing who have considerably less than the OP per month. Then again at least social housing is secure rather than a private tenancy.

First of all I'm pleased it's been done up and will be a nice living environment for you. That must be a huge relief.

But honesly, if there was enough social housing to go round then I'm sure most people wouldn't have a problem with you getting this flat. I know I wouldn't, however much you have left over. It just seems grossly unfair that you should be able to get it when you can actually afford a private rental (and still have money left over each month) and there are so many others out there on waiting lists, in fairly desperate situations, who have no alternative and who would give anything for this flat.

So would you all turn down affordable secure housing if it was offered?

Glad you've found it to be ok.

I think on the last thread the OP said that they were paying a fortune in private rental and they were struggling every month.

I would rather someone had a bit extra in their pocket every month than paying huge amounts of money to a private landlord.

I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to get social housing, and that high rents are a problem for thousands, but I don't begrudge it to anyone tbh.

Guess op won't be back now!

"lets face it half of MN would have a fit of the vapours if they had to live on a council estate , good luck to her I say."

Speak for yourself, I was brought up a council estate. And a jolly happy time it was too. Genuinely.

I'm sorry about your DD MrsDV. However, I still think your hate should be directed at the government, not the Army. The Army only do what they are told to do!

I live on a council estate now .

I am officially very jealous.
No two ways about it- jealous, jealous, jealous.

Funny how its only recently that people are jealous of council tenants and accuse them of boasting.

When did that happen?

This is a free internet forum and within reason OP can post whatever she likes so you all want to BACK OFF with your jealous attacks!!

I'm not jealous but there is something wrong when a percentage of the population get offered such a big discount to buy their property. OR could it be worth the LA's while to sell the property at a loss rather than be responsible for running it at a loss.