To wonder how people actually afford to move into council properties

[Niknick]

So, me and my dh have been offered a house with our local council after years of being on the waiting list. We have two son’s youngest of whom is autistic and we have been offered 3 bed meaning we’d all have our own bedroom at last. I haven’t had an official viewing of the house yet ie with the hosing officer but workmen are currently doing some repairs and they allowed me and my dh in the other day to have a quick look round whilst they were sat in the garden on a break.

Anyway i went equipped with my tape measure to measure up for carpeta, blinds and just to get a general idea of how things will fit. I’ve since gone to a cheap carpet place and been quoted £1500. Blinds will cost around £450-£500. Then there are things like decoration, removal costs, buying a new oven as our current one our landlord owns etc. The property isn’t in great condition and having viewed another of the council’s houses years back me and my dh are under no illusion that the council will do anymore than the bare minimum.

So far it needs plaster work doing as the workmen have done a rubbish job. It needs scrubbing beyond recognition, the garden is like a jungle so that will be more cost as we’ll need to pay someone to do it as me and my dh are busy with work and the kids. Plus parts of the fences are smashed and need replacing as it’s not safe with my son. I know it’s the tenants responsibility to do a lot of these jobs but usually, people moving into these properties aren’t well off so AIBU to wonder how do people manage to do all this? We have virtually zero savings due to paying high private rent, so long term moving to this house would be financially a good idea, but short term I’m panicking about where the hell we find the kind of money we are going to need to make this house at least comfortable for us all to live in. Moving to my current house paying a months rent up front plus deposit and referencing check fees is cheaper than what we’ll have to spend to move to the new house so I’m quietly panicking.

I think you're deliberately misunderstanding. I didn't say they have to carpet it, but they do have to make sure the flooring is to an acceptable standard. I'm assuming the op wouldn't be doing this as a matter of urgency if this was the case.

We own a house and it needs loads doing we can't afford. I call it my hovel.

@RuffleCrow - haha, no, housing associations and councils are not responsible for carpeting the properties. Internal decoration is the responsibility of the tenant; if it’s in a particularly poor state then they may paint it before letting or sometimes they give out a paint pack voucher. Repairs are the landlord’s responsibility but not cosmetic work.

You can get very cheap blinds from ikea and what about a carpet off cut or failing that a large rug for now. I think the council may give you a loan for home improvements look for second hand oven people sell them cheap when they are having new kitchen Failing that no blinds and just draw curtains lined in poundland 20 pounds a pair. Also some charity shops do solid old furniture you could upcycled they also have curtains etc. I would say go for it do it bit by bit. Home bargains b and M Bargains poundland etc are a godsend

I'm quite reassured to hear so many posters who have moved into new homes and made do with plastic seats, cardboard boxes for tables and sheets hooked up as curtains, horrible cement floor in the kitchen and bare gripper rods on the stairs.
I had to do this for a long time when I moved into my council house and I was really ashamed I couldn't afford more and far too embarrassed to invite any friends over. I never had mum friends over for fear of being judged or worse, them feeling sorry for me. It was a horrible way to live although I gradually improved it.

Bit by bit, doing what you can yourself to save money... It is exactly the same for everybody who gets a 'new' property or moves home, not just council tenants...

If you don’t have money for carpets then painting floors whether concrete or floorboards and then putting rugs over is a cheap option and can look really nice. I think everyone has said previously that everyone has to do things bit by bit in every house (e.g. plastering is not essential unless there’s huge holes in walls) - you just need to make sure you spend limited funds in the right areas which mean the most to you

We have bought our own house and I still can't afford curtains or new furniture after 15 years. You are not entitled to it. You have to earn it.

Oh you poor thing getting a council house at half price rent. How will you manage?

As lots of people have said, you do it bit by bit. Doesn’t matter who you are or how you have got the new home.

You really don’t have to spend £400 on blinds. Argos have blackout blinds that you cut to size yourself for about £20. Look at charity shops and free cycle for curtains if you want them.

We’re embarking on a self-build project and need some temporary bits (long story) and have just picked up a second hand cooker for £50. Look on FB marketplace.

Unless its a huge garden I am sure you can make it child safe with a weekend of work. Curtains can be obtained from charity shops, look for rugs on ebay until you can carpet properly.

One good tip is to buy a garden table and chairs (which you could probably get in the end of season sales), and use that indoors. Once you have money for a decent dining set, you move the other into the garden.
I have to agree with most previous posters, most people have to ‘do up their homes’ as and when they have the time and money.

Moved into our first house with a punctured air bed, a bean bag and one deck chair. No carpets, no curtains, nothing, and a big row the night we moved in! I consider it a bit of a right of passage and the gradual work to make it yours is very satisfying. Nearly 30 years later we are embarking on self build and expecting to live in the shell as soon as the frame is up with no lav, no bath and no kitchen... I'm viewing it as an adventure.... possibly a smelly one... with a couple more rows...

Plenty of cheaper option available to get started. You can buy sticky floor tiles that look like wood and are much cheaper than carpet. Might be an option for a few rooms to keep costs down. Carpet tiles are also an option and could work in kids rooms.

Blinds can be bought cheaply and you fit them yourself. We recently got round to fitting blinds in our bay window (it’s taken us 7 years of living here to get round to it as we had a curtains up.) I’m sure it took a couple of hours to do and only cost £40 for the blinds for 3 windows.

Wallpaper can be picked up in places like b&m for cheaper than the big diy stores.

You can look second hand or on places like free cycle for the oven and upgrade it when you can afford to. You are actually doing pretty well if you only have to buy an oven, most people starting out in a council house have nothing so the fact you have sofas, beds, furniture etc already is a great start.

Honestly I know the though of having to buy stuff like carpets is overwhelming but you are in a fortunate position to have been offered a council house and you will have a bit of security for the future - also the freedom to decorate as you please. It’s not a luxury you often get with private rental.

Oh you poor thing getting a council house at half price rent. How will you cope?

Well done, your wanker of the week prize is on it's way to you.

@gamerchick seriously?? Do you think the councils funds come out of thin air?? Taxpayers fund the social housing budget for councils to provide council homes

seriously?? Do you think the councils funds come out of thin air?? Taxpayers fund the social housing budget for councils to provide council homes at a much lower cost to the renter than a private landlord would charge

@VinylDetective and where does the money come from? The money trees? It comes from our taxes...honestly

Well OP you have my. sympathy As a social worker I've helped people with care needs move into council tenancies and I have wondered how those not eligible for support manage. Councils definitely got harder re the help they give. I've had to go to charities for flooring and volunteer groups for painting etc and I know how dispiriting properties can look initially, esp if been trashed or ex hoarders

@Niknick

I’ve not read full thread so someone may have pointed this out. Depending on what your tenancy says you may not be responsible for the fence. My tenancy/my housing association fixes fences ( within reason) obviously if you cause damage to it by being negligent or careless ( which isn’t your case) you pay for it but as a general rule it if starts to fall etc due to general wear my housing pay for it. My sister is council and they did the fence before she moved in. The garden was a jungle but they had to make the fencing safe etc especially as my nephew is Autistic.

Other than making sure the house is safe, all the cosmetic bits is up to you. I’ve been at my place 20 years and it just seems like a constant doing up project, lol.

So just take your time. Get the essentials in place and do the rest bit by bit even if it ends up taking 5 years

In my experience most councils will do a basic magnolia paint and lino job and then anything else you want on top of that you have to do yourself. Maybe my family were just lucky. Certainly don't remember any of them wanting for decent floors or decor and they weren't rich enough to pay for much themselves. I guess some councils just take more pride in their housing stock than others.

[quote MrsBadcrumble123]@gamerchick seriously?? Do you think the councils funds come out of thin air?? Taxpayers fund the social housing budget for councils to provide council homes[/quote]
Yes seriously. Tell me how that happens, show me.

Social rents pay for housing stock, there are no mortgages on millions of older houses and the rents pay for them many times over. Usually leaving a surprise, of which the government used to take a chunk of until they cut council budgets.

So tell me how taxpayers subsidise council houses.

*surplus

Tax payers do not fund social housing. Why on earth are you so bitter about affordable housing offered to families on low income? More fool you for swallowing the social housing myths peddled by right wing media.