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

[FreshStarts00]

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
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?!

What about removal costs op? You also will need to pay for broadband and sky and council don’t supply aerials if there isn’t one already!

Looks like we’ve all been there one way or another..... do your kids need to move schools? New uniforms?

Why do some people take the attitude that because housing is expensive and shit for everyone that people should just be grateful for anything and shut up.
You’re right housing is too expensive and shit for most people, yes lots of people would give their right arm for a council house but that doesn’t mean we should just accept anything. The government give us what we put up with, instead of blaming people at the bottom for wanting a cheap carpet and an oven why don’t we turn our attention towards the people at the top and start demanding housing for everyone.
Social housing SHOULD be nice, it should be seen as a viable option for normal people who have been priced out of the house market. We should be campaigning to get more and better council houses.
It used to be that loads of people had council houses but since right to buy those were sold off and as you all know that fake creation of wealth contributes to the financial crash.
I live on a council estate now, I can tell by looking out my window which are council houses as they all got their roofs done about a year ago so the ones with new roofs belong to the council, and of the fifteen houses I can see from my window only 3 of them are still council.

How lovely, witsender. Remember that out of what we have left, we pay taxes to fund people like the OP. If we didn't own our own houses, how long would she have been waiting for council accommodation then?!

Try not to choke on your giggles. They're really not funny.

How about asking the welfare state to pick the cash from the magic money tree.

Chill, I own my own house too and always have. In fact we owned 3 at one point. However despite the costs involved so San see how comparatively lucky we are and am grateful for that.

I don't begrudge a penny going to social housing and think we need more of it, and am not dim enough to think that everyone is in a position to save indefinitely for something that may never happen.

On the ‘no flooring’ issue, I think, but am not 100% certain, that they by law have to fit kitchen and bathroom flooring, so you must at least have that, op?

My son is in this situation right now. He's an adult with an autistic spectrum disorder and is very impaired when it comes to change management. New flat has bare concrete floors. A two day window to fit flooring (nearly £500 luckily paid for by his grandparents) and no support to help him pack and move from his support workers etc. A three day overlap otherwise he's paying rent on two properties. Removal company costing £300. He is very distressed that the housing association may rip up £500 worth of 12 month old lovely carpets in the flat he's moving from. It's very stressful, and expensive for someone on benefits.

Are there any local charities which will help? When I moved into my first privately rented house, I couldn’t afford any furniture and a local charity helped people in these situations. They had furniture, white goods, everything. I’m in the midlands and this particular charity was called ‘loaves and fishes’. Perhaps a church local to you might provide the same help. All I had to pay was a delivery charge to help keep their operation running.

Other than that, I would also suggest looking at Facebook selling sites etc. Not sure what to suggest about flooring - sorry. But yes, I agree that no flooring in a house with a young child does seem dangerous. I’d be worried about that. I know that there was no flooring in the house my parents moved into with two children under three, I still remember how cold it was! They put two different bits of carpet down from carpets their friends were getting rid of in the months after they moved in.

Would any friends be willing to help you? I recently loaned money to a good friend to help with moving in costs and was happy to do it. If you have a friend or family member close enough and could stick to a repayment schedule, it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Otter MH son has kitchen and bathroom flooring in his current place and the new one he's moving to.

*my son

I disagree completely Sentimentallentil.

Why do some people take the attitude that because housing is expensive and shit for everyone that people should just be grateful for anything and shut up.
We don't. We take the attitude to be grateful because for whatever reason some people are not able/have not made themselves able to support themselves, and are asking the rest of us to do it for them. So yes, be grateful that our earnings do this.

doesn’t mean we should just accept anything.
Why not? Accept what others provide you with grace. What we provide should be the absolute minimum.

The government give us what we put up with
No, the government gives you what we can afford and what keeps you warm, secure and safe. It's up to you to build on that if you want more.

Social housing SHOULD be nice
No, it should be the minimum.

it should be seen as a viable option for normal people who have been priced out of the house market.
No, it should be temporary and an emergency.

We should be campaigning to get more and better council houses.
On the contrary. We should be campaigning for fewer and more basic council houses, which are currently being built to higher space and finish standards than private properties.

Gosh people are harsh!

OP have a look on gumtree. I got our freezer for £15 on there.

Entitled to benefits seems to mean entitled to everything else too! Live with bare floors for a while (done this - it wont kill you) or get a bloody job and stop sponging off us workers

But why the assumption OP doesnt work? Later on she says shes does.

Do people think that people who live in social housing don't pay taxes or work ? I live in a council house my dh works full time I did for many years but my son is severly autistic andhas learning disabilities so I'm now his carer most of my neighbours work and pay taxes too.

No, it should be temporary and an emergency.

Council housing was never designed to be temporary and for emergencies. It was designed to provide affordable housing.

We should be campaigning for fewer and more basic council houses, which are currently being built to higher space and finish standards than private properties

For people that cant afford private rentals or mortgages social housing is essential, I cant believe anyone would want less built.

Yes the general opinion on mumsnet is that council/social housing is for unemployed people and a temporary . My parents have been council tenants for 47 years paying full rent even as pensioners still paying full rent, I was a council tenant for 17 years paying full rent.

8 years ago I moved into a HA property from private rented. It was a right shit hole but I was just glad to finally have a secure home after years of living in overpriced shitty private rentals. Also back then if you were on benefits/ a low income the HA gave you £100 b&q vouchers and also I was entitled to £700 from the job centre towards decorating and white goods etc. I bought wood floor off eBay cheap for the kitchen hall and lounge. DH (then dp) put it down as he’s handy at diy. the cheapest carpets I could find for elsewhere. rugs from ikea and cheap paint. I made it really lovely. (That will piss Off some of the daily mail types on here but fear not that’s all been stopped now so poor people have to move in to their social houses with fuck all and be grateful for it)

In time I started a business which became pretty successful. I felt able to because I knew I had a secure affordable base. We got married and had another baby. DH our his head down at work and got promotion after promotion and we saved up for a mortgage deposit and now own a place. Well I will do in 18 years anyway. And I’m forever very very grateful I was able to rent a HA house cos it would have been a whole lot harder for us to get sorted like we have while private rented.

Anyway op I really do feel for you it’s very hard at first but you and your family will reap the rewards in time I promise x good luck x

I wonder if you were one of the many people that turned down the council place my dm was offered. Apparently a brand new kitchen and bathroom complete (both new flooring), big garden, in a nice town with good transport links & solar panels, a place that just needed a paint and a few carpets, wasn't good enough for the several people above her priority wise who all refused it.

I can only assume some people on the list aren't desperate for housing at all from that experience

*put his head down at Work i mean

I’m private renting. £1200 PCM. Most agencies/landlords wants month up front £1200, a deposit of 6 weeks rent £1800 and then around £150 per tenant for referencing. So no. I don’t think it’s outrageous what they’re charging for affordable housing

Social housing is essential and should be safe, clean and affordable.

There should be more of it.

White goods as an expectation is fraught with potential problems and is an expectation too far.

We live in a council house, both work and pay full rent and council tax and have gradually furnished and redecorated it ourselves. We don't claim anything but child benefit.

I've met people that assume council tenants pay no rent, don't work and are surprised all our bills aren't paid for us too! I agree, it's an annoying assumption Mrs.J.

flowerpot
Why do you think that everyone in a council house is being handed it to them and don’t have jobs or pay taxes?
Anyway I would much rather that people on housing benefit got it paid back to the council and not to a private landlord who was essentially getting tax payers to pay off the mortgage on their rental properties.

Unfortunately we are in a situation in Britain where a huge gap has emerged between people who are able to get on the housing ladder and those who can’t. The private rental market is a disgrace with many people living in piss poor conditions and paying far too much in rent.
These aren’t all people on benefits but teachers, shop workers, nurses, you know normal people who work hard and pay their taxes.
Do they not deserve a stable and comfortable home?
I see no reason at all that the council couldn’t run the housing more like a business, build more housing charge the people who can afford it market rates and subsidise the ones who can’t.

Im a single mum and when i moved house (private rent) i had no fridge or washing machine. I bought both for £80 from a refurb place. As for no flooring why should they provide carpets? For people to destroy and then buy new everytime a new tenant comes in? Put them on a pay monthly plan. My colleague got her 2 bed council flat carpeted throughout (with nice looking carpet) for £350 and then paid over 12 months.
I think YABU to think we should provide washing machines fridges and carpets to every tom dick and harry.

Sentimentallentil
flowerpot
Why do you think that everyone in a council house is being handed it to them and don’t have jobs or pay taxes?

When did I write any of that?