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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think it shouldn't be so expensive to move into a council house?!

413 replies

FreshStarts00 · 13/11/2017 12:13

NC.
So we've finally been allocated a house! Viewing is really soon. They want first 2 weeks rent 6 days after the viewing, then they say they can give us the keys 2 days after that.
Few hiccups:
We'd be paying rent on 2 houses. Need to give landlord 1 months notice from the day we pay rent, which is the 1st of the month. We barely have anything left over as it is after bills. Let alone magically coming up with another £250+.
They don't provide flooring.... AIBU to think this is a hazard with a 3 Y/O?? Splinters and nails and rough floorboards Shock
No white goods whatsoever... So we'd be without an oven and a washing machine. Also microwave ect but that's not vital.
No bath- LO will just have to get over her hatred of showers, this one isn't really a major issue.

Anyone got any magical ideas?
Or been in a similar situation?
AIBU to think it shouldn't be so expensive to move into a council house?!

OP posts:
reetgood · 13/11/2017 13:19

The rushed thing is because they report on voids, eg properties remaining empty. Lower the figures are for voids the better they look.

Original poster
FreshStarts00 · 13/11/2017 13:20

Also people saying I should be grateful- I am extremely- we've been waiting for 4+ years for this opportunity. Honestly didn't think we'd come close for another 6/9 months though.

OP posts:
MyKingdomForBrie · 13/11/2017 13:21

OP works full time - so to tonic and all you other hate filled frothers - don’t make assumptions and you owe OP an apology - not that I think for a million years you’ll give her one!

There is nothing wrong with needing benefits - so many low wage jobs just do not pay enough to live on, it is a horrible situation.

OP I am completely shocked that the council tear up flooring! I guess it’s so they’re not liable to maintain/replace it..? It’s crazy though, just have a contract clause excluding liability.

Just think of it as a long term project, you will be able to make it nice, just not for a while. Shame about not having a bath too, you’re allowed to feel disappointment just because you’re moving into a council home.

Anyone saying ‘well I have to buy my own things and pay a mortgage’ - we’ll lucky bloody you! However hard you’ve worked your arse off for it if you’re buying in this day and age you are still incredibly lucky - the majority will have had help or at least lived at home for longer to save up. That is lucky.

YetAnotherNC2017 · 13/11/2017 13:21

You weren’t looking for tips, OP, you were ranting about the cost of moving into a (heavily subsidised) council house.

Meanwhile those of us buying our own houses have to fork out for all of our own furniture, carpets, curtains and appliances, solicitors fees, stamp duty and estate agent fees, mortgage deposit and monthly mortgage payments when we want to move house.

You really don’t have it that bad.

Nicknacky · 13/11/2017 13:22

So why haven't over those 4 years been putting away even a small amount of money each month if you knew you would be moving into a council house? You know it's going to cost you money!

SaucyJack · 13/11/2017 13:22

"OP, you must have found this a horrible wake-up to the raw realities of life in social housing in today's Britain."

Er, no.......?

It's never been the norm for council properties to come with white goods or carpets. Probably for very good reasons that benefit both the housing dept. and the tenants.

It's just the way it is. I doubt many tenants would choose differently in the long run.

One of the major advantages to renting a council property over a private one is the freedom to keep the place in whatever condition one wants.

Originalfoogirl · 13/11/2017 13:22

They only charge high rents because mortgages are so high.

Mortgages are high because of the cost of property. Those who own rental properties have mortgages too. You make it sound like they are ripping people off.

MyKingdomForBrie · 13/11/2017 13:22

Oh and anyone who doesn’t approve of the benefits system providing a safety net for the poor - I really hope you’re not on the bones of your arse one day and forced to eat your words. I bet you’d be complaining a lot more than OP about the shocking state of the system.

wannabestressfree · 13/11/2017 13:23

If you get housing benefit there is a form you can fill in so the overlap doesn’t hit you too hard. I am sure if you take your tenancy when you sign up they will give you some leeway. The problem is how long have you been on the list? And you have no savings at all? I had to borrow some money and my eldest at uni got my white goods (the money comes out of my account) and I got my carpet on bnpl. My house had cement floors and was a new build. It needed everything.

reetgood · 13/11/2017 13:24

Ffs. Access to council homes is means tested. Some of us who are able to get a mortgage, pay solicitors fees etc are very grateful that we’re in a position to do so!

Jenala · 13/11/2017 13:24

I've never had white goods even in a private rental. Yabu.

Originalfoogirl · 13/11/2017 13:24

we've been waiting for 4+ years for this opportunity. Honestly didn't think we'd come close for another 6/9 months though.

So, it's bad planning on your part then? You've had 4 years to save money for the deposit and white goods, are you really suggesting you would have done so over the next 6 months?

Hissy · 13/11/2017 13:25

Good for you OP, this is a good thing that is happening, although yes, finding a deposit at that speed is tricky for a lot of people. You can't have been the only person that would struggle, can you ask the Council to see what can be done?

As for FAR too many on here, what a sad and sorry bunch of evil wankers some of you are. Those who would take time out of their vapid little lives to vomit their bile onto a thread should be ashamed of themselves. Pathetic.

insancerre · 13/11/2017 13:26

We moved into a council house when dh came out of the forces
We had no savings, hardly any of our own furniture and he had no job
The house we were given had new floorboards but no carpets anywhere
The previous tenant had died in the house and was a heavy smoker
The first night in I cried all night, so I do have every smpathy for the op

x2boys · 13/11/2017 13:27

It depends where you live reet there was no means testing when I applied for social housing the only stipulation was that we had the right to reside in the UK and we had connections to the town.

BakedBeans47 · 13/11/2017 13:27

I wouldn’t expect white goods or a bath but surely they should provide flooring?

Original poster
FreshStarts00 · 13/11/2017 13:27

Nicknacky
Because I work 2 jobs, sometimes 3 if they need me, so we can eat. Savings are a dreamy thing. We'll be able to start saving once we've moved.

So much judgement with such little information

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 13/11/2017 13:27

hissy She has had FOUR YEARS to save the money. It hasn't came out of the blue. Why should she expect these items to be given to her when they both work and they have had years to save?!

CrocusEater · 13/11/2017 13:28

My parents lived in council houses in Yorkshire since the 50s, when admittedly, it was much easier to get one. They moved half a dozen times for one reason or another (you could get an 'exchange' with someone else if you wanted to move to be nearer a relative or new job etc)

Flooring and white goods were never provided by the council, and
certainly not in the 50s/60s when hardly anyone had a fridge anyway.
So it's not as if the council have stopped providing this stuff.
They never have.

Council · 13/11/2017 13:28

I completely approve of a benefits system that provides a safety net, just not sure that net needs to include fitted carpets or automatic washing machines, but maybe that's because I remember lino in the bedrooms and my well to do aunt being the only person I knew with a washing machine. It's really not that long ago that these things were luxuries feels very old

PatchworkGirl · 13/11/2017 13:29

It doesn't have to be too expensive - most furnishings can be cobbled together over time. Could you make do with a microwave instead of an oven for a while (cheaper?). You can usually pick up white goods on local selling pages pretty cheaply. I spent four years with bare floorboards (stairs and bedrooms) - admittedly without a young child - because carpet just wasn't a priority. I never got splinters and banged in any errant nails, got used to it pretty quickly!
You'll soon make it 'home' Smile

FlowerPot1234 · 13/11/2017 13:29

FreshStarts00
We'll be able to start saving once we've moved.

I wish the OP could see the irony in that statement.

Nicknacky · 13/11/2017 13:30

Op, You mention £250 in your opening post......£250 over four years is £5 a month. £2.50 for you and your husband to put aside a month. Two working adults can surely save that.

ArcheryAnnie · 13/11/2017 13:30

I completely understand how difficult it is to have a big bill that you don't have the money for, and stuff that you need (fridge, washing machine) that you don't have, need and can't yet afford - but that's the case for most people moving house, if they don't own those things already, whether that's council rented, private rented, or moving into a house you've bought. I've been in several private rentals where they expected us to supply your own fridge and washing machine, and tough luck if you don't have them. (And thus I have gone for long periods in my adult life without a fridge or washing machine at all.)

Moving for anyone, anywhere, is expensive and stressful, and in the absence of a ton of money, that just really can't be helped, I'm afraid. But once you have moved, I hope you enjoy your new place, OP.

VileyRose · 13/11/2017 13:31

YABU