To clarify exactly what a council house looks like

[Lifegoeson5]

So many posts about council housing and 'benefit scroungers' getting 'free' housing.
I pay £150 a week for this...

@BlueBirdGreenFence

I have them Samcro and they really are fab.

Ooooh, I just spotted this. Thanks bluebird!

I didnt even know they existed. I will get some for the bathroom

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

The OP said the pictures were taken the day after she moved in. So I am suggesting the council meets its obligations as a landlord by renting out homes to new tenants sans mould...

@CecilyP I don't think anyone feels hard done by that their council.house doesn't come with carpets and white goods ,they are just pointing out that many private rented houses DO, and before anyone starts with the but council houses are so much cheaper , in many parts of the country there is NO discernible difference in rents between social.housing and private rent.

They're fab @HelenaDove

B & M, Poundland, Poundstretcher, and Home Bargains are the stores where you're most likely to get them, but they may have them in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, or Sainsburys.

Misty

@HelenaDove

😘

@x2boys YY i think its a bit of a smokescreen. Like i said on the previous thread (and i havent failed to notice that there has been plenty of them in this pre election period) when they are arguing for even stevens its funny how they dont seem to think SH tenants should get the white goods just the insecure tenancies. Which actually ARE happening now despite the attempted subterfuge that they arent.

I'm a bit disappointed because I thought I was going to see something really pretty. We live in a house that we couldn't afford to rent if it wasn't a council house. 3 bedrooms, big garden, own driveway.

It isn't great when you move in and find lots of DIY do, and we still haven't finished after many years here, but it's a home for life and that's priceless.

I'm with you on this OP. You are still paying rent and if you moved in to a private rental and it looked like that you would have reasonable grounds for complaint.

@WorraLiberty

And so would the owner of the property and she's clearly not ventilating properly and cleaning the mould!

I agree.

And I don't think people are being mean by saying 'be grateful for what you have got!' Council tenancies/Housing Association tenancies are like gold dust, and there are multiple millions of people on the waiting list(s) who will NEVER get social housing.

So they will have to tolerate transient, unreliable, insecure, often low-quality, expensive, private-let for life. They would give their left arm for what the OP has! (And not everyone is able to BUY a property by the way, before anyone says anything.)

So yeah, it is getting (some) people backs up that she is moaning about something that is easily remedied, and is probably happening because of her own (tenant) neglect.

Where IS the OP @Lifegoeson5 by the way?

That looks like a great house! Grew up in a council house that was nothing like that.
Any house you inhabit needs heating and ventilating properly and a lick of paint to make it feel like home. Two adults could sort out the cosmetic stuff in no time.

No the absolute best that ive seen was the claim that SH tenants all get their TV licences paid for them.

Well, there is some nugget of truth in this, there are certain circumstances in which individuals get reduced fees and some HA's may have local agreements in place to pay an individual's licence fee.

It is as wrong to say that this is never true, as it is to claim it applies to everyone.

In some areas they may offer to carpet the house, white goods can often be sourced for people moving in, either free or low cost. Often grants are available to cover costs. HA's are buying up new builds, these can often come with at least a cooker in place.

You cannot judge all areas and all HA's purely on your local experience (or opinion pieces on t'web) Some of these things do happen and therefore you do get 'I know someone.....' and thus it spreads.

"Some of these things do happen and therefore you do get 'I know someone.....' and thus it spreads"

Funny how the fact that quite a few HAs are charging the same or more than private rent never seems to spread quite as easily despite a lot of experiences and evidence, some of which ive posted several times on this site.

Apparently we should blast the heating and open windows to combat the mould....

Yes you should, plus use mold and mildew remover.

HA homes DONT come with white goods. Despite a PP claiming that they do.

Actually some do, more so HA who rent out market rent properties, also some HA who have fitted ovens/hobs take ownership of those appliances due to intergrated appliance regulations.

Um, yeah, that’s how condensation works, council house or not, especially if you’ve got a lot of people living there. Had to deal with the same in mine this morning. Maybe I should have got someone from the council to have a wipe round and open the windows...

Is this a stealth council house tenant bashing thread? Is it meant to promote the myth that people in social housing don't bother to clean? Because all I'm seeing is something that would happen in any home that isn't suitably heated or ventilated, and is in need of some elbow grease.

If council housing is oh so bad, why don't all the unsatisfied tenants just move to private rents? Why are there such long waiting lists in most parts of the country? Oh yes, that would be because they are loads cheaper, have secure tenancies and aren't subject to the whims of a clueless first time landlord doing btl on a shoestring.

If social tenants want the white goods that come with a private let, they are free to give up their tenancy. Or they could be really innovative and actually use a small amount of the rent difference to actually buy there own.

I really am in favour of decent, affordable housing for everyone. But pretending council homes should be built to be dirt resistant is taking the piss. As is the idea that in the current climate council tenants are getting a raw deal compared to many private tenants, or some struggling owners.

"I’ve no idea why people think council houses should be full furnished, white goods supplied and carpeted.... for £150pw"

Show me where anyone said this. I"ll wait.

There are a few posts upthread where, unless I have misunderstood, people have expressed feeling hard done by for their council/HA house not having carpets or white goods. Admittedly, no-one has expected their house to be fully furnished.

I at least, have posted a few times on threads like this that HA houses don't have the things in them like carpets and white goods. Not because I feel hard done by (though seemingly that's the assumption made) but to address the point that they're sometimes cheaper than private rent because you get less. The whole subsidised thing gets thrown around, the cheaper rent etc - and I feel it's fair to point out that yes you pay less, but you get less and carpet/furnish/decorate at your own expense than most private rent where carpets and some fixtures and fittings etc are the norm and you're usually not allowed to decorate. But as the stereotype of HA tenants being entitled is very much alive and well, stating a fact is taken as feeling hard done by. To me that's basically saying that people just want a reason to have a dig, whether it's actually a valid point or not.

In some areas they may offer to carpet the house, white goods can often be sourced for people moving in, either free or low cost. Often grants are available to cover costs. HA's are buying up new builds, these can often come with at least a cooker in place.

I was sourced a cooker, 2 carpets and a bed as I didn't have them. The HA officer put me on to a charity, I applied was eligible and got them. You know why I was eligible? Because it was a charity for hospitality workers in situations like mine, who've worked in hospitality for 5+ years, their funds come from brewery donations and workers like me - I donate £5 a month now I'm back on my feet. So yeah I got free stuff, but not from the HA or tax payers or anything else, I only got them because I worked.
Misconceptions about HA's, funding and 'free' stuff are rife because people want to believe it. It's as simple as that.

Oh dear Op. sounds like you are having a rough day!

Right:-

1. You are away from your ex and safe.
2. You now have secure housing at affordable rent and you won’t be kicked out with a months notice.

Deep breath. And again.

As a lot of people have said - quite a few of these issues are fixable quite easily and cheaply. Dehumidifier, those clever little pots people were showing (I’m going to get some), opening windows, get your washing outside if you can.

One thing we do is every day wipe round all the windows with an old towel. Seems to get the worst of the wet off.

Please don’t spend £5k you don’t have until you have tried all the suggestions given.

I pay 600 a month for a one bed private rental in similar condition except I know my home is not secure and I can be turfed out despite spending a lot of money here . My landlady is fab but wants this place for herself in old age and has said probably 2 years. I'd give my back teeth for a council property.

OP might not be on a secure tenancy, she may be on a starter tenancy, if she and her rent/property is not acceptable (hoarding, rent, house cleaning, criminal activity etc...) it can then be extended for a further 6 month or serve a section 21 to end the tenancy or convert of the tenant is good.

In my local area most Councils/HA now start on a starter tenancy and not assured tenancys, unless they are a transfering tenant.

excuse the typos, im tired (have travelled to Turkey and back in 36 hours) had a few while black friday shopping sucker for a deal

Lived.in council houses all my life and bought an ex council one. DM has large 3 bed council home with new windows, gas central heating, kitchens and bathrooms. All non bought ones in my street have had all as.DM but also new.roofs. I can't afford new food or window yet 😟

DM council house dining area and bedroom

Misconceptions about HA's, funding and 'free' stuff are rife because people want to believe it. It's as simple as that.

I did not say where the grants were from or who was eligible, I was simply pointing out that some people are able to get white goods but they are rarely from the council or HA.

And I guess you aren't in an area with hard to let properties, not everywhere has hundreds of people bidding on each property, in parts of the north east there are areas that people don't really want to live and sometimes incentives are offered.

Believe or not believe me, I'm not bothered, but your experience is not necessarily everyone's.