To really regret buying on a council estate

We bought a new build on a small road of about 30 houses. We did not know and were not told that out of the other 29 houses, 25 had been bought by a private landlord who rented them to the Council as a job lot.

It was awful. Rubbish everywhere, loud music, antisocial behaviour. The final straw was bringing my 3 year old home from nursery into the middle of a drug raid. We couldn't get the house on the market quick enough.

Some lovely neighbours. But quiet and respectful tenants are drowned out by the people who are obnoxious and don't have any respect for anyone or anything.

Typical snobby MN thread about council estates. The stereotype of the average Mumsnetter is also true.

So do you think the OP and other posters are lying about the actual behaviour on their estates? Or that this kind of behaviour is fine and should be tolerated? Nobody (except the poster whose post was deleted) is suggesting that the majority of council tenants are like this, or that all council estates are like this. That would be stereotyping.

How about a little tolerance for those whose lives are so hopeless that they turn to drink and drugs and for those who are so bored that they resort to partying late into the night or shouting, as a PP said, in their garden until 3am.

People can be tolerant and understanding but still not want to live amongst people who act like this.

Oh come on. I've been on MN long enough to know that any thread about council estates brings out all the snobs.

And people lying on MN? oh the very thought...

Do you have a partner? Children?

I don't blame you.
Some council estates with long term residents can be lovely.
Some of the local estates are barbaric drug dealing squats.
I pity the people allocated housing in a terrible area.
I feel more sorry for those who bought one.

Don’t see anyone saying all council tenants are like this. But some are! Just behave decently like everyone else manages to.

Indeed, but where is the lie?

The virtue signalling from people who've never experienced it is revolting.

I've been driven to the brink of suicide by antisocial behaviour. Trying to hold down a full time job when neighbours party through the night, every night, music thumping, shouting, fighting, drug dealing. Not to mention the things my 8 year old has had to hear and witness. Finally going to court in December, after 4 very long years.

Perhaps those unaffected, but telling us to be kind would like to do a house swap?

Sure. When I’d done a full day at work on three hours sleep, I should have nipped round to our charming drug dealer neighbour and tried to get him to don a hi vis vest and grab his litter picker to give the street a jolly good clean. Perhaps the teenagers on the street would have taken some time from their busy schedule of filming themselves setting fire to bins to lend a hand too.

Again, I believe the behaviour outlined by the OP goes on and I believe it makes life difficult for her and I sympathise.
But these behaviours go on for a reason, usually things like a lack of money and, worse, a lack of hope.
It's hard to care about a village in bloom type of things when you have to be a prostitute or your children won't listen to you.

One solution could be that instead of paying rent, the housing benefit is paid as a mortgage payment to the council so that they are paying for a house they will own and any equity that builds up in it will be theirs.
This could give people a stake in the property, some hope and bad behaviour might diminish. After all, they would then be in the same position as the OP and wouldn't want to see their asset diminish in value.

Sorry to hear this. Our first house was on a council estate but thankfully we didn't have much trouble. I'd put your house up for sale. Ignore the fact your neighbours house hasn't sold - it will just be that it is priced too high. If they're not in a rush to sell people will just over price and hope someone who doesn't look know the area will come and pay over the odds. If you're realistic about the value of your home you can get out of this situation.

My focus is the happiness and environment of my children and me. Doesn’t leave room for “tolerance” to disrespectful and inconsiderate tools.

Not everyone living on a council estate receives housing benefit. Another MN free house stereotype comment.

@MindYourBeeswax gow come name change just to post on this thread?

@CaramelTwirl Yes, you are right to correct me on that. Apologies.

All very noble and nice in theory, but some people are just crap and will squander every opportunity afforded them, so I think it would be kinder for the cycle of poverty and misery should to end with them and not be perpetuated.

I’ve lived cheeky by jowl with these sorts and most of them go onto commit the sins of the (usually absent) father. Sad, but it is what it is.

People can NC for whatever reason they like. What's that got to do with anything?

I name change every couple of months! I think everyone should.

*Should end with them

@chilllove
I've not been in the exact same situation but agree with all you say. I'm so sorry you've had to live like that, and wish you & your family PEACE. Hugs..

Although the OP mentions living in a town (i.e. not London), I think there are a number of reasons why this doesn't routinely happen in London or elsewhere. Essentially it comes down to the nicer street being a less permissive environment, both practically (residents have the means and motivation to challenge poor behaviour through liaison with police, council, neighbourhood watches etc.) and psychologically (it doesn't feel like the sort of place where you can behave in a yobbish manner).

A friend of mine who is an artist bought an ex-council house on an estate in SE London and it is lovely (1930s, large rooms) and has an extremely large garden, which is why she bought it. It's probably a 70/30% council divide. She does get onto the council often via fixmystreet to get any broken furniture/mattresses that are thrown out onto the street removed (why are council tenants such pigs?) and recently formed a neighbourhood group using Next-door to ensure the neighbourhood doesn't go to the dogs. I think she writes to her MP quite often as well.

Be more pro-active and get onto the council (tenants are their responsibility). In her case, it is the homeowners who pay for the grounds management via a yearly service charge, so the council don't want to piss them off.

Report any anti-social behaviour and organise your neighbours if you can.

On the plus side, she always says that nobody would ever want to burgle her as she lives in such a shit looking street. But behind her fence, is a lovely oasis that she has created and her house inside is amazing. Her garden is full of palm trees that she planted and she built a studio at the back. Also because it was very cheap, she's been mortgage free for years.

Look up the mosquito device, used in some areas to deter teenagers from loitering in public areas. May be worth a look, if you could install it in or on your property.
Love the insinuation that anyone who doesn’t want to live with noisy abusive teenagers outside your door all night, drug dealers a stones throw away ,or young kids spitting and swearing at passers by is somehow a snob. LMFAO. Those are statements made by1) people who recognise themselves in the above group, OR 2) wealthy people who’s only interaction with such estates is when they drive past in their expensive cars, on the way to do their weekly shop at Waitrose.