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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:
ShimmeringShirts · 04/04/2023 08:50

I’ve recently moved into a council property in a “rough” area. It is so bloody quiet here. Everyone warned me not to move, I’d end up in trouble, I’d end up harassed, there was drugs and drink and antisocial behaviour galore. It’s a damn sight nicer and quieter here than the “naice” area I used to live in. The primary and secondary schools are amazing and my mental health has come on leaps and bounds since then. Yes the area looks run down a bit but the people are welcoming and friendly. Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that. I’m so bloody grateful to have got this place.

fairydust11 · 04/04/2023 08:51

HotSince82 · 03/04/2023 20:46

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?

Show quote history

Completely agree with this.

Namechange192727171 · 04/04/2023 08:53

I grew up in a council estate, then moved to a council house of my own when i fell pregnant.

Lived there for 12 years before finally having saved enough to buy.

It could be rough at times but it toughened me up.

With all respect OP, you cant keep living on mummys couch. You need to get on your own two feet and provide a home for your child, wherever that may be.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 04/04/2023 08:53

When you say "deprived area" - what do you mean? Because you can't afford rent for your own choice, so technically...

StarmanBobby · 04/04/2023 08:54

I do think you're lucky to be offered anything at all, so don't be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Assuming you're either living off benefits and having the rent covered or in a low paid job and getting cheap rent.
So take the chance and start working towards getting a better life for you and your kid.

NotQuiteUsual · 04/04/2023 08:54

I live in a deprived area with an awful reputation. People always look concerned when I say where I live. I love it here though and have had less trouble than I did in very well to do areas. A lot of the trouble in these communities tends to stay between people involved in it and keeping yourself out of it is all you need to do. It's important to be friendly though, don't ever judge either. Having a reputation as a soft touch with never a bad word to say is far better than one of being stuck up.

The only thing I would say is, your immediate neighbours are the entire deciding factor as to what your quality of life would be like in this area.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 04/04/2023 08:55

I love how you applied for council housing as soon as your child was born and in that time haven't tried to sort yourself out with an income. What are you waiting for? They aren't going to offer you a mansion. You've made enough poor choices, make this good one for your DS.

StillWantingADog · 04/04/2023 08:56

Definitely take it. It’s not forever and you admit the flat itself is nice.

BHRK · 04/04/2023 08:56

Of course you take the flat and put a roof over yours and your child’s head. Then work on getting a decent career so you can save and move on. It won’t be forever if you don’t want it to be

HoneyPotBee · 04/04/2023 08:56

thegrain · 03/04/2023 22:39

She can't? Otherwise she wouldn't be getting a flat?

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Where did she say she can’t move back with her mum? Plenty of people move out of their mums house then move back when things don’t work out.

MisgenderedSwan · 04/04/2023 08:59

I lived in a private rent in a beautiful rural area with very low crime. My neighbours were drug dealing abusive arseholes who used to bang on the walls and scream at me if the baby cried in the afternoon (only if dh wasn't there 🙄)

The flat sounds nice, the area sounds nice. Quite often areas that used to be awful have had some money put into them and aren't bad now. Take the flat. If you hate it look for a swap in the future. Flats go quickly because family members look to move close to where they grew up.

whowhatwerewhy · 04/04/2023 09:01

Your very lucky to be offered a council property, personally I would take it .
Your home will be what you make it . Every area will have its problems.

Mummytolittleones92 · 04/04/2023 09:02

If you don’t take this flat and get booted off the list, you’re very silly OP to put it mildly. I’d jump at the chance in your shoes. Best of luck with it x

Anycolouryoulike · 04/04/2023 09:03

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 04/04/2023 08:55

I love how you applied for council housing as soon as your child was born and in that time haven't tried to sort yourself out with an income. What are you waiting for? They aren't going to offer you a mansion. You've made enough poor choices, make this good one for your DS.

How do you know the OP made poor choices and are you saying that because the OP is a single mum she's an undesirable? Because I'm getting that vibe from your comments.

ThreeLocusts · 04/04/2023 09:04

OP, it's no wonder you're stressed and everyone would like to live somewhere nice with their kids - but please don't judge an area by a few 'undesirables', and anyway who IS an undesirable?

I lived in a 'rough' area for some years and nothing bad ever happened to me.

FancyFanny · 04/04/2023 09:04

I think most council properties are in fairly deprived areas. Beggars can't be choosers!

Rhondaa · 04/04/2023 09:04

I don't understand how it's a 'terrible' area when anti social reports are a few years old. I would think a top floor flat would be ideal, away from any 'undesirables' who may walk past the window.

Op, just take it then save up and look to rent privately where you can chose the area you'd prefer.

Anycolouryoulike · 04/04/2023 09:06

FancyFanny · 04/04/2023 09:04

I think most council properties are in fairly deprived areas. Beggars can't be choosers!

Living in SH doesn't make someone a beggar!

Rhondaa · 04/04/2023 09:11

Anycolouryoulike · 04/04/2023 09:06

Living in SH doesn't make someone a beggar!

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I don't think the pp meant it literally. It's just a figure of speech meaning if you have very very few choices you can't afford to be picky.

FeltCarrot · 04/04/2023 09:11

Even leafy suburbs have their problems. I live in South Manchester, we’ve had knife crime, mugging, gangs of teens roaming the streets throwing stones, a whole street of cars being keyed.
Nothing is done.🤷‍♀️

SquidwardBound · 04/04/2023 09:14

Anycolouryoulike · 04/04/2023 09:06

Living in SH doesn't make someone a beggar!

Show quote history

No it doesn’t.

But the point being made through that standard idiom, was that this OP has very limited choices here.

She says that private renting is not an option for her.
obviously buying is out of the question.
She’s currently in very overcrowded accommodation with her mum.
She has already turned down one social
housing offer and this is her final offer before she’s removed from the list entirely.

It’s quite disingenuous to pretend that is the same as saying people in social
housing are ‘beggars’.

JackiePlace · 04/04/2023 09:15

Take the flat and as soon as it's in your name advertise for a swap.

Lavendersquare · 04/04/2023 09:24

@ShouldITakeIt I really think you need to wake up and realise the seriousness of your situation. It's almost impossible in most places to get social housing let alone in a nice area, whatever that is. You're bringing up a child at the moment in your mother's home that can't continue indefinitely it isn't fair on your mother or your child.

For goodness sake take the flat and make the best of it, as others have said you can ask for a transfer/swap after you've moved in.

And yes you will be definitely be removed from the waiting list if you turn down a second flat without a very good reason.

jessycake · 04/04/2023 09:27

Take it and see , the very worse that could happen is that you will be in the same position as you are now , which is living at home or private rental .

Dymaxion · 04/04/2023 09:28

When you say top floor , how many floors are there, are you talking high rise or 3 storey flats, we have a few of those around here. Either way I would take it in your circumstances.