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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you accept this council house?

378 replies

Ashkey234 · 19/07/2017 18:12

I'm currently renting a house for £360 per month from a housing association.
Not in the best location.
I bidded on a house (through council ) it's only 7 years old,much better location and massive garden ,£380 per month.
I went for viewing today and I was the only person who turned up.
Anyway if I get offered it,do I take it?
It's going to mean new carpets,decorating.
Luckily the council have just painted all ceilings and all walls white but I would want to put my own stamp on things.
What would you do?
It's great rent price and still leaves us with a lot of spare money in the month for other things.
Is it worth moving for better location ?
Its bigger too.
I'm in two minds

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 20/07/2017 12:15

**he/she comes

BarbaraofSeville · 20/07/2017 12:23

The housing officer from the new house wants to come to my current house to do a property inspection

Yes, probably just to see how you live now and discuss keeping it nice, being a responsible tenant etc. When my sister got a council house it had recently been redecorated by the council and carpeted in a basic but clean and adequate style and her tenancy wasn't made permanent until she had lived there for a few months and continued to keep it nice. Which I think is perfectly reasonable.

DP and I had a council flat a lot of years ago, and that was an absolute dump when we got it. A few other people I know have experienced the same - full of rubbish, grafitti on the walls, filthy, flea infested carpets, you name it.

Keeping a reasonable standard of cleanliness and not wrecking things doesn't cost anything and should be a basic requirement of being a responsible tenant really.

AskingForAnEnemy · 20/07/2017 12:33

Christ there are some bitter people posting on this thread. Actually asking why somebody should get a council house if they have money left over each month??

Original poster
Ashkey234 · 20/07/2017 12:34

When I moved into my home I'm in now it was filthy,every room was different colours,dirty,stank of mould,ceilings were yellow.
Thankfully the new house is actually clean.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 20/07/2017 12:40

Good luck - sounds a great move.

AnneGrommit · 20/07/2017 12:40

Re secure tenancies I have one and have done from the start. It even has rights of succession to my kids. I moved less than six months ago. And incidentally I am no longer costing anyone any money as I can now afford the rent - unlike before when I got £300 a month housing benefit to hand over to my landlord which I needed despite working.

OP enjoy your home. Once you're in there just do a bit at a time. It's yours to do with as you wish. You may find that you get the keys relatively quickly if the place is empty now. It doesn't have to be perfect straight away.

I'd stay away from carpetright though - there are other cheaper places - you know - the ones with remnants outside. Depending on the size of your rooms you could well get away with remnants everywhere. I did. They will be able to put you in touch with a local fitter.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 20/07/2017 12:48

I work and pay taxes myself.

From the OP. So you're not paying for her house. She is. How's that egg on your face looking? Hmm

Ashkey I know it's scary. I suffer from OCD and massive changes make my anxiety worse. Try doing bits at a time. Maybe one or two phone calls today. Then two tomorrow.

Re the keys I dont know. They generally like it done and dusted within a week or so now but ring them and check.

missmove38 · 20/07/2017 13:03

I think you should take it. I wish I was on your position. I've moved so many times due to unreliable landlords.

I shelled out nearly £3k in a year and a half for that reason not to mention the stresses that go with finding somewhere. Can see why this would wind some up

Original poster
Ashkey234 · 20/07/2017 13:07

Thanks everyone for your advice and help.
I'm going to look into getting some reminents.
I think they'll be the cheaper option.
Me and my partner don't have a joint account and I hate asking for money as he earns more than me so I would like to do the carpets out of my own wages.
The housing officer is going to ring me and book in for home visit,so il ask then about time frames etc but I know the house is ready to be let so hopefully not to long before I can measure up for carpets /blinds.
You never know I might even like magnolia ha ha

OP posts:
MsMims · 20/07/2017 13:08

Glad you've decided to accept it OP. I'm sure in a few months time it will all seem worth it. Moving house is daunting for anyone let alone contending with health issues at the same time.

I had a bad experience with carpet right fitters leaving handprints and smears all over newly painted walls and skirting boards. They also charge a fortune for poor quality underlay - I bought much better stuff online for a lower price. So just be aware of that.

Best of luck and hope you'll be very happy in your new home. Flowers

PonderLand · 20/07/2017 13:42

'Me and my partner don't have a joint account and I hate asking for money as he earns more than me so I would like to do the carpets out of my own wages.'

Why don't you suggest splitting it if you're not comfortable with him paying the full amount? If he earns more than you then i think he should pay some towards the cost. Assuming that he will be living there with you too.

user1471134011 · 20/07/2017 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WormwooodScrubbed · 20/07/2017 15:51

Re secure tenancies I have one and have done from the start. It even has rights of succession to my kids

These are changing next year so be aware of that as it's no longer guaranteed, your children would have to be qualifying people (which would likely depend on their income and number of bedrooms needed, for example)

x2boys · 20/07/2017 16:58

some of the comment on here are ridiculous WE DONT ALL LIVE IN LONDON FFS! Everytime theres a thread about council housing there are always loads of comments about bloody London i live in the northwest i got my council house within a few months and my rent is similar to the OP,s and about £10 /a week less than i would pay in private rent but anyway OP good luck with your house the only thing i would say about carpets is try and save up for better quality ones if you can we carpeted my house two years ago we have a decent carpet in the lounge but the rest are cheap and they need replacing really.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 20/07/2017 16:59

Me and my partner don't have a joint account and I hate asking for money as he earns more than me so I would like to do the carpets out of my own wages.

Why on earth are you asking your partner for money? The fact he earns more than you is neither here nor there. If you live together you contribute equally together. In the same way your dp would if he shared with housemates.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 20/07/2017 17:01

Re secure tenancies I have one and have done from the start. It even has rights of succession to my kids

They really don't. When my Mum downsized from her 3bed to her flat. We couldn't keep the house on. We had to look for somewhere else. It didn't immediately get passed to us and I doubt the same happens if you're a child of a deceased parent.

AndNowItIsSeven · 20/07/2017 17:05

Pixies again area dependent , and depends on original agreement.

Original poster
Ashkey234 · 20/07/2017 18:24

In my area my cousin has just got his mums 4 bedroom house and he is a single man ...not sure how it works.
I did think it was pretty silly him wandering around a big house but he has happy memories there.
I guess up north east it's not as bad for housing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ashkey234 · 20/07/2017 18:24

She had been a tenant for over 40 years so not sure if that made a difference

OP posts:
tackytriceratops · 20/07/2017 20:12

The north east is very different.

Actually, I'm beginning to realise the NE is very good for a number of things, another example being the health care system/ NHS up here.

tackytriceratops · 20/07/2017 20:12

Well don't you OP, I'm sure you'll be really happy there :)

gamerchick · 20/07/2017 20:43

d I doubt the same happens if you're a child of a deceased parent

It does here but you can only do it once. Only in cases of death though.

MrsMeeseeks · 20/07/2017 20:53

Best of luck, OP. Anxiety can be so debilitating but it sounds like you're working throught it.

Your DP doesn't sound very co-operative or supportive!

Oldcrank · 20/07/2017 21:29

I think that is a bit different
My uncle was allowed to have my gran's 3 bed house because she'd had it for 40 years

FreudianSlurp · 20/07/2017 22:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.