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 the Next door app is brilliant if you live in a fairly affluent leafy area.

I live in a village with a real sense of community and lots of residents who don't think twice about giving away decent furniture, lawn mowers, bikes.. whatever is surplus to their requirements. I found a practically new double mattress on there given away free, the woman refused to take any money at all. There also seem to be a lot of people locally getting new carpets as luxurious off cuts are often offered!
That wouldn't happen in the inner city area I used to live in.

It's definitely worth a try though.

Curtains in my house:
1 pair from car boot fair (bout about 22 years ago)
2 pairs from charity shop
1 pair from fb selling
2 pairs 2nd had on eBay
1 pair (blackout lined) I made 6 years ago at previous property
1 pair (unlined) I made from £1 per meter fabric - total cost £8

I agree you need to get creative and also make do for a while.

It would be good to get carpet done before you move in. Check local small businesses as they are often much cheaper.

E bay, gum tree, face book market place, charity shops, you don't have to get into debt to cover your windows. You can pick up fence panels for about £15 if you shop around (time to brush up your DIY skills) carpet just the living room for the time being and buy your kids some slippers. Sorry but you are coming across very entitled OP.

Basically they move in without curtains, blinds etc etc? Even beds sometimes. People live pretty hard lives all over this country and it’s about to get worse.There are grants out there for white goods and beds but they are only for the most poor and even then very limited. Welcome to life.

@gamerchick suggest you google how many council tenants are in private rentals with landlords being given thousands of pounds in cash incentives to take their waiting list tenants plus those in B&B - ALL of this is subsidized. My husband is working in a 2 billion pound regeneration project for social housing - this money hasnt materialised from no where - our taxes fund this! Don’t believe all you read in the lefty press where Corbyn and his cronies promised everyone a free unicorn at the last election

Sorry I haven’t been able to read the whole thread of posts so it may have already been suggested but depending on whether you are in a council property (housing options team) or housing association (tenancy support/financial inclusion) most registered social landlords will have teams to assist with getting you set up. I.e paying for carpets or window coverings or even helping you get some white goods. Best of luck.

Not being able to afford things does not mean it has to look scruffy. Keeping it clean and tidy doesn’t cost anything.

You can get cheap blinds in Ikea. Buy cut off bits of carpet for smaller rooms. Lino is cheap enough for the kitchen and bathroom, Just do it one bit at a time.

Surely the council will fix the fencing when doing a safety inspection?

Alot of people in council estates save in credit unions and take out loans to decorate their houses, they have low interest rates.

@gamerchick - social rents don’t pay for housing stock. Councils all have net spends of housing - they’re not breaking even and certainly not making a profit. This is despite the fact that much of the housing stock was built with government funds. Same for housing associations which are given grants.

I’m not saying that’s wrong, but it’s a fact. The taxpayer pays in part for the provision of social housing and its generally provided below cost. It is important tho that we hold these agencies accountable when they are spending public funds and not pretend that they are businesses making a profit. Not all housing associations and councils are providing value for money and we should definitely be questioning that.

@FamBae. I was thinking that, OP WANTS EVERYTHING. I would think the security of a council house with low rent would be worth the sacrifice of having carpets and blinds. Many posters have given ideas to get things cheaply. The council should make the garden fence secure I think. OP you just got to "make do" and be glad that you are being given this chance - there are probably many in high rise flats who would grab this opportunity, carpets/blinds or not. You sound very demanding/entitled. Learn some DIY skills.

Everything we have is secondhand, including carpets. join several Freecycle groups and go to carboot sales. I used stickyback film from Wilkos on a couple of windows. In one place I painted the wooden floor. you can also roller paint chipboard furniture to quite nice effect. I covered a rubbish sofa with a throw. Be inventive. It is a blessing to have a council house. Even DIY vans are expensive so you might have to borrow money for that. You'll have to patch up the fence with chicken wire or old pallets.

Made to measure blinds are a luxury. Maybe Freecycle or charity shop for second hand carpets and curtains. Same for oven.. Or new ones with bank loan which might be possible with cheaper rent.

I’ve been in my property 6 years this month, and I moved in just a week before giving birth to my son, without a single piece of furniture to my name and having to ensure I had everything ready for a new baby on my own.
Financially it’s very hard, but honestly most people buy secondhand, if lucky will be given old things by friends or family and just make do with budget DIY jobs whilst you slowly get it to the point you’re happy.
I’m only just finally getting my home to a point it’s decorated and furnished to my taste and not just as a make do. I’ve actually never even done my own bedroom, but that’s next in the list; hopefully by Christmas, though it will have to wait to into the new year before I get myself a new bed and not one with broken slats and creaky as hell that my cousin owned 5 years before passing it on to me , and then I’m hoping to finally have my kitchen just how I want it before next summer. I’ve also never got to the point if affording flooring for my stairs and landing, so I got some floor paint and carpet treads and runner that were on sale at Wayfair but just happened to be the very style I wanted, and whilst that was originally another make do, I ended up loving the look so much it’s now become the finished look.

Good luck, it is so difficult, but you will get there, even if it takes a few years.

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@gamerchick - social rents don’t pay for housing stock. Councils all have net spends of housing - they’re not breaking even and certainly not making a profit. This is despite the fact that much of the housing stock was built with government funds. Same for housing associations which are given grants.

I’m not saying that’s wrong, but it’s a fact. The taxpayer pays in part for the provision of social housing and its generally provided below cost. It is important tho that we hold these agencies accountable when they are spending public funds and not pretend that they are businesses making a profit. Not all housing associations and councils are providing value for money and we should definitely be questioning that.[/quote]
The taxpayer does not pay towards council housing. The only time it happens is in the form of housing benefit and that applies to private rents.

Nobody can say how I've noticed. A house is paid for a long time ago, multiple times. how does the taxpayer subsidise its rent?

I know people would like to think council houses are free or subsidised, but they aren't.

In fact the only answer we thrashed out on one of these threads was the loss in market income. In line with private rents.

Which many of them are now.

Council housing pays for itself through rents. Some of that rent money is invested into the building of private homes for open market sale. Council housing is a separate account that has to remain solvent, called the Housing Revenue account. It's separate from all other local authority spending.

Government grants are available for building social housing. This is perhaps what disgruntled tax payers are frothing about. The grants cover less than a third of the cost of building a house, around 50k per house. The grant amount falls every year, now just O.2% GDP.
There is no grant at all for replacing existing council houses.

It's pretty appalling that people resent 0.2% of UK government money going towards such a good cause- providing affordable housing to those who cannot afford (through no fault of their own) the inflated private rental market prices.

A good majority of social housing tenants are working full time and paying taxes like everyone else.

Are people seriously moaning that they're "paying council tenants' rent" and that those tenants are little more than beggars who have no right to ask for better housing conditions?

A tip in place of blinds - use frosted glass film? That will give you some privacy.
Alternatively blinds in ikea start at £10 - whilst not as wow as made to measure from Hillary’s, they do the same job!
I private rent and have always been unfurnished. You’ll be amazed which items you can pick up for good value in local market places on social media as well as places like ebay and gum tree.
All the best making your new house a home

Ah, I remember when there as no such thing as " social housing". There was just housing. In the last 10 years so people have started adding the "social" and talking about the "needy" being grateful for what they have.
Actually, I am very happy for my taxes to go towards housing, if some if them do. Why would you not be? Doesnt every citizen of this country deserve a stable, if basic, home? And if not, why not?

@SmileyClare

Council housing pays for itself through rents. Some of that rent money is invested into the building of private homes for open market sale. Council housing is a separate account that has to remain solvent, called the Housing Revenue account. It's separate from all other local authority spending.

Government grants are available for building social housing. This is perhaps what disgruntled tax payers are frothing about. The grants cover less than a third of the cost of building a house, around 50k per house. The grant amount falls every year, now just O.2% GDP.
There is no grant at all for replacing existing council houses.

It's pretty appalling that people resent 0.2% of UK government money going towards such a good cause- providing affordable housing to those who cannot afford (through no fault of their own) the inflated private rental market prices.

A good majority of social housing tenants are working full time and paying taxes like everyone else.

Are people seriously moaning that they're "paying council tenants' rent" and that those tenants are little more than beggars who have no right to ask for better housing conditions?

This ^^

I have been working full time all my adult life. I live in a housing association property. I have paid full tax all my working life.

My wages pay my rent not my taxes.

My taxes may go towards subsidising those on benefits that have their rent paid out of those benefits, but they DO NOT subsidise my own rent. I pay for that out of my own hard earned salary, just like everyone else that pays for their property. I also have to pay a service charge on top of that rent to cover the costs of maintenance.

The OP clearly stated that both her and her DP work. So yours and my taxes aren’t subsidising her either @MrsBadcrumble123

@Niknick You can get blinds from places like Dunelm. I’ve just purchased some from there myself. But failing that as others have suggested just get some net curtains for now - they’re cheaper and will give you privacy. I still have net curtains in my living room and bedroom anyway as I prefer them over blinds for privacy purposes and because they let more light in than blinds.

When I moved into my property, to carpet it I bought off cuts that fitted the size of the room instead until I was able to purchase better carpet.

The council should repair the fence. Explain to them your safety reasons and they hopefully will be able to do this. If not maybe you can patch up the gaps for now and replace the fence at a later date.

The garden - maybe start work yourself on a small patch that your DS can use to play in for the time being and do the rest bit by bit. (The weather will turn colder soon anyway so it may be too cold for him to play outside for long periods in the coming weeks as Autumn/Winter hits).

‘Half done’ - I moved in to a house we had to completely renovate. At one stage I had no kitchen, tap on wall and baby!
This is how it works if you want a nice place, bit by bit as everyone says. Ours took 4 years.
Ps carpet was chuck out from hotel and just paid for fitting.

If you want to live in an immaculate house then you buy a new build (though they have issues too). There's often as much or more to do if you buy your own property. The price for blinds us ridiculous. If you must have them, measure up and buy online, otherwise buy cheap curtains. Prioritise and do bit by bit. When we bought a new build with 100% mortgage plus £12k negative equity from the previous property & mortgage rates were 15% we lived without turf in the garden, stair and dining room carpets for about 3 years. It was a bit grim but we survived, noone suffered because of it. Look at cheaper options, use Freecycle, local gumtree etc. Look in charity shops for curtains to free up cash for plastering etc.

It's coming into winter, get some chicken wire to cover the broken bits of fence and strim the whole lot to within an inch of it's life. It won't grow back too much at this time of year and DS could still play.

Blimey @Niknick you’re taking a pasting here. You haven’t bought the house. It is a council house. If you hadn’t have written it was a council house and was a private landlord you were moving in to, people would be saying that a landlord should provide carpets and window coverings as a bare minimum. They would merrily be helping you with all kinds of landlord reporting numbers and information. Just because you’re going council they think you should be moving into a shit tip with gratitude and a doth if your cap.

Pure snobbery.

I seriously think that they should have a 9pm curfew nationwide to be policed and enforced by the police and military. The biggest spreader at the moment is people (mainly young) socialising in pubs etc and will only worse if they don't stop it now.
Anyone arriving back into the UK from a high infection rate country should be tracked for 2 weeks, GPS or something to check on their movements or simply fine them and put them in a 'quarantine' hostel until they have been tested as soon as they arrive back to try and deter the super spreaders from thinking it's OK to holiday whilst we are in dire straits .
This is never going to stop if infections are being brought into the country as well as our own poorly managed social mixing.

Freagle is brilliant , costs nothing and you simply have to collect.