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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Offered council property in terrible area

307 replies

ShouldITakeIt · 03/04/2023 20:27

Single parent of DS who is 2. Currently living with my mum but have been on the council waiting list since he was born. Was offered a flat before but turned it down due to it being in a rough road and have been offered another one this week which is in an even worse area! The flat itself is actually really nice but the estate it is on used to have a really bad reputation and is a deprived area. It was fairly quiet when I visited but pretty run down looking and I saw a few undesirable looking people walking about :( the problem I have is that if I decline this flat, then I'm booted off the list. Private renting isn't an option for me and I'm currently living in my mum's lounge. Would you take the flat? Does anyone have any experience of living in an undesirable area? Help!!! :(

OP posts:
StylishM · 03/04/2023 20:30

Take the flat, every area will have its rough inhabitants but the alternative is losing all council support & being effectively homeless. You can always apply for a swap in the future

derbylass81 · 03/04/2023 20:30

I have no direct experience, but if it really is as simple as take it or you're off the list....I would think you might have to take it Sad

Perhaps you could try posting the town/location, see if anybody here knows it? Maybe it's not as bad as you think?

You could take it and try to swap?

Busybody2022 · 03/04/2023 20:31

Take it and bide time for a swap

strawberryjeans · 03/04/2023 20:33

If you’re safe, stay with your mum there. Rather less space and feeling safe any day over actually feeling unsafe

AlltheFs · 03/04/2023 20:34

Of course you take it. What is the alternative? If you can’t private rent or buy then you have no choice.
Take it, work on your ability to earn a higher income in the future to give you choices. The council isn’t going to offer you anything else. Your child needs a proper home before they get much older.

milkysmum · 03/04/2023 20:34

I think you are going to need to take the flat. As others have said you can always look for a swap later on but for now you will wt least have your own space.

SUPsUP · 03/04/2023 20:35

Is it ground floor? Would you feel safe inside? If the flat itself is nice I’d try and make the best of it and try a swop if you need to before LO starts school

HotSince82 · 03/04/2023 20:35

Is it just shabby and run down or are the crime statistics concerning you?

AHugeTinyMistake · 03/04/2023 20:36

Take it. It's not forever.

If the rent is lower than market rate you'll be able to save up and you might be eligible for shared ownership in the future.

Think of it as a stop gap to where you want to be - it's a stepping stone not your final destination.

And once you have the flat you might be able to swap for somewhere else. But you can't do that if you refuse it.

thegrain · 03/04/2023 20:38

You have no choice. You obviously needed a home or you wouldn't be on the list. Here's your home. It's not forever.

BMW6 · 03/04/2023 20:38

I live in a deprived area and no real problems. There is drug dealing but that's pretty universal these days.

Take a chance on it - if it is really bad you can try and swap or go back to mums.

Pubesofsoberness · 03/04/2023 20:38

I'm in a council house in a rough area. It's been fine. The majority of the people living here are lovely. It's definitely improved since I moved in 7 years ago as well

Take it, if you really hate it then move back in with your mum.

thegrain · 03/04/2023 20:39

And there will be other people living in the area who aren't "undesirable". It's not like you'll be moving into an area where literally everyone else is "undesirable"

WeeOrcadian · 03/04/2023 20:39

Is it ground floor? This would be a big factor in my decision

thegrain · 03/04/2023 20:40

WeeOrcadian · 03/04/2023 20:39

Is it ground floor? This would be a big factor in my decision

If its ground floor there will be loads of people wanting to swap

BMW6 · 03/04/2023 20:42

And bear this in mind OP. Whether you are privately renting, a home owner or Council tenant, you have no control on who lives in your neighbourhood. Good people come and go, so do trash.
Horrible neighbours can be absolutely anywhere, including wealthy areas.

Original poster
ShouldITakeIt · 03/04/2023 20:42

It isn't ground floor, it's actually top floor. It's a mix of the area looking shabby and the reputation it used to have. If I google it then there are a few reports of antisocial behaviour but they're a few years old. It's an estate but it in a slightly rural area and the surrounding area is nice it's just this estate.

OP posts:
glossypeach · 03/04/2023 20:43

Before I had kids I was a single person and got offered a studio flat in a HIGH crime rate area. I mean the shops 2 minutes round the corner there were stabbings every other month. I minded my business and I was there for 3 years and saw nothing, I had no problem living there. I understand your concern, especially where your kids are involved - but I do think the fear itself is worse than the actual experience itself. Take it, mind your business and make it your home. It’s not all bad.

Thistooshallpsss · 03/04/2023 20:44

There’s a crime map you can check which shows offences and where they are committed and the dates I can’t remember the website address but I’m sure it will come up on google

HotSince82 · 03/04/2023 20:46

ShouldITakeIt · 03/04/2023 20:42

It isn't ground floor, it's actually top floor. It's a mix of the area looking shabby and the reputation it used to have. If I google it then there are a few reports of antisocial behaviour but they're a few years old. It's an estate but it in a slightly rural area and the surrounding area is nice it's just this estate.

With respect;

You are on a council housing list. What you have described is a very usual and reasonable description of a council estate.
Most people living there will be respectable probably friendly and community spirited. There will be undesirables but they shouldn't bother you if you don't fraternise with or make yourself known to them. Your flat isn't ground floor so unlikely to be a prime target for opportunistic theft.

What else were you expecting to be offered, given the circumstances?

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 03/04/2023 20:48

I live in an area with a doggy past, lots of council houses and that's officially listed as 'deprived'.

It's quiet, the schools are great, it's had lots of investment and 'revitalisation' schemes in the last 15 years. I love it.

Theunamedcat · 03/04/2023 20:53

Take it for now doors lock windows close and your universe can be your own four walls

I lived high rise the worse thst happened to me was I ran out the back door late gor work one morning and hit a "body" someone was sleeping rough out there and I just slammed a fire door into them I screamed and ran out the front honestly thought I had hurt them but I was too scared to check turns out they were bruised but fine

It was a very rough area you never left after dark alone but the locks were good I fitted a chain and a bolt and i was left alone

kitsuneghost · 03/04/2023 20:53

If you cant afford to rent somewhere nicer then I don't see you have much of a choice

sparklelikeadiamond · 03/04/2023 20:55

Take the flat. Work on earning more money and that will give you more choices for the future.

OhmygodDont · 03/04/2023 20:58

Every area has its bad inhabitants. I’ve seen areas classed as deprived when some houses go for near a million and the school education although rated good was below par.

Live in another area again decent house prices but deprived. Schools same rated good but are above and beyond.

If it’s council house now or be booted grab it and run.