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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Declining townhouse layout?

574 replies

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 08:43

Hello,

I have been on the council register list for about 12 years. It is just DD and I (12). Over the course of those years, we have viewed four properties. I declined two properties due to price and unsuitability and the other two properties I was outbid.

I recently received a call from the council to view a property, which was declined by the first person. I went to view the property and although the location is great (for work and DD travelling to school and not far from my parent's house) and the rent is quite decent. The townhouse layout is what is putting me off. It's a terrace conversion flat. I am on the first floor (a neighbour below but no one above me) but it has a townhouse sort of layout. I have my own entrance door, the hallway/entrance is on the ground floor, the bathroom is on the first floor. The kitchen and living room is on the second floor and the bedrooms are on the third floor.

Also, a friend recently told me that if I was to consider buying the property (which I wouldn't), it would be very difficult to sell as townhouses are unpopular.

I feel a bit disheartened to consider turning this down but I wanted to gather all of your thoughts before I speak to the council. What should I do?

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 31/07/2023 12:33

All depends if you would prefer to live in that house rather than the one you live in now. Also on how fit you are going up and down stairs.

Trinity65 · 31/07/2023 12:33

Callyem · 31/07/2023 12:27

In mine you don't get any! You turn it down and you're on your own. At least that was the case 15 years ago when I turned down a high rise in deepest upper Edmonton!

Show quote history

Mine is Lewisham Borough.

2001 I was made homeless with 2 children (primary age) and a 3 month old baby.
Was in a hostel for 4 months in total and lucky enough to be offered a 3 bedroom maisonette.
Not an ideal area as far from shops really but I took it (first viewing I had had ever) and a lady from Housing was saying its a nice size (it was) and that if I had refused I would have had 2 more chances and no more.
MAY have changed now though . This was also pre the Bidding

OP, in time you could do what I done, which is get an exchange
I downsized from a 3 bedroom maisonette to a 2 bedroom house, but you can also try to swap like for like (so 2 bedroom for another 2 bedroom).
Very happy here and in a parallel road to the one I had to leave in 2001.

CecilyP · 31/07/2023 12:34

I thought council houses were for people who were desperate for somewhere to live and would never be able to afford their own place?
I didn’t know you could be choosy and turn down places that aren’t perfect!

Well now you do! If you’re a homeless applicant, you normally have to accept what you’re given. If you’re a general waiting list, or transfer list applicant, you can turn unsuitable places down. There maybe rules on when you may get your next offer but that’s all.

cittigirl · 31/07/2023 12:34

You'd be mad to turn it down OP

astarsheis · 31/07/2023 12:35

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 11:53

I am desperate but a few people have told me that I should not take it due to the stairs (accidents waiting to happen), lack of security, will not be able to sell it ( I have a friend who advised me to buy a council property if I have the opportunity to do so, but said that townhouses are unpopular).

Show quote history

Sorry OP but you are completely unreasonable and actually sound a bit lazy if you can't be bothered to climb a couple stairs for cleaning.
And why are you listening to other people? You sleep in the living room and everything you told us about this 'maisonette'...not 'townhouse ' sounds lovely and would improve your daughter's life...that on its own should be your priority.
Why are stairs dangerous? surely you climb stairs every day of your life... work, shopping etc.
Never heard such a pathetic bunch of excuses. Sounds like you just can't be arsed.

mummydoris2006 · 31/07/2023 12:35

In all honesty I'd decline it and remove yourself from the waiting list.

Let those who are truly desperate have a chance of getting a home, the one's who worry about having any roof over their heads rather than whether it has a good sales potential or not.

I don't usually comment on these type of posts but your post has angered me tbh @notintowoo , both your audacity and sense of entitlement!

TequilaNights · 31/07/2023 12:36

I think you'd be silly not to bite their hand off.

You'd be in a better position to exchange to a different property after X amount of time in the new property than the box your in.

Stop listening to others, it has everything you need, in a good area, good rent, the toilet issue isn't a big issue, living in a studio flat seems worse.

Security can be put in place to stop your fear of being an extra story away.

Stairs are not an accident waiting to happen unless you have a medical issue.

Town houses are extremely popular where I am.

You'd be cutting your nose off to turn it down OP.

Trinity65 · 31/07/2023 12:36

mummydoris2006 · 31/07/2023 12:35

In all honesty I'd decline it and remove yourself from the waiting list.

Let those who are truly desperate have a chance of getting a home, the one's who worry about having any roof over their heads rather than whether it has a good sales potential or not.

I don't usually comment on these type of posts but your post has angered me tbh @notintowoo , both your audacity and sense of entitlement!

This ^

PriamFarrl · 31/07/2023 12:36

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 11:53

Show quote history

You listen to your friends too much.

You won’t be able to buy it straight away if you take it, so resell value doesn’t matter.

If you are desperate then you will take it. I think you are crazy to turn it down on account of some hypothetical future people might not like it.

Your options are:
1: you and your child in a better sized house with a secure tenancy.

2: you and your child stuck in a tiny flat, which will become less suitable as they get older, just incase some hypothetical people in the future are unhappy.

MangshorJhol · 31/07/2023 12:36

I am very confused. Why would stairs pose a threat for an adult who is fit and a child who is almost a teenager? I am very confused by this.
If you lived in a standard terrace with a loft conversion and got broken in while you slept in the attic there would be the same issue.
Why are you scared to move on from a flat where you literally don’t have your own bedroom?

MangshorJhol · 31/07/2023 12:39

So let’s sum up the problems:

Resale. Is this a realistic prospect for you to buy this house? Do you have substantial savings? Otherwise is this not entirely hypothetical?
Stairs. Not an issue unless you have a disability. Plenty of people bring up babies and toddlers in houses with stairs and your daughter is 12…
Cleaning. Well it’s a bigger issue so there might be more cleaning.
Lack of security- get a proper lock, maybe a security system and remind yourself as I said that even in a house with a loft conversion you can be a couple of floors away from the front door.

MangshorJhol · 31/07/2023 12:40

Bigger house*. Not issue. I meant that it’s not a big issue.

CecilyP · 31/07/2023 12:40

mummydoris2006 · 31/07/2023 12:35

In all honesty I'd decline it and remove yourself from the waiting list.

Let those who are truly desperate have a chance of getting a home, the one's who worry about having any roof over their heads rather than whether it has a good sales potential or not.

I don't usually comment on these type of posts but your post has angered me tbh @notintowoo , both your audacity and sense of entitlement!

What a silly post! If OP takes this house, she will be leaving her current flat available for another tenant. Perhaps another single parent with a much younger child.

ChrisPPancake · 31/07/2023 12:42

Take the house or take yourself off the list.

Teateaandmoretea · 31/07/2023 12:43

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 11:53

Show quote history

Stairs = accidents waiting to happen

Or stairs = more exercise leading to a longer life.

Keep that glass half full not half empty is my advice.

Mayhem3 · 31/07/2023 12:44

mummydoris2006 · 31/07/2023 12:35

In all honesty I'd decline it and remove yourself from the waiting list.

Let those who are truly desperate have a chance of getting a home, the one's who worry about having any roof over their heads rather than whether it has a good sales potential or not.

I don't usually comment on these type of posts but your post has angered me tbh @notintowoo , both your audacity and sense of entitlement!

I would agree but then I feel sorry for the daughter.

She has to suffer because her mum puts the (completely wrong) advice from her friends over her owns daughters happiness.

Mayhem3 · 31/07/2023 12:46

CecilyP · 31/07/2023 12:40

What a silly post! If OP takes this house, she will be leaving her current flat available for another tenant. Perhaps another single parent with a much younger child.

Show quote history

Or if she declines it then the house will be available for the single parent to have and be grateful for.

Crunchymum · 31/07/2023 12:47

Sounds like the exact layout of our house but we have more bedrooms (ours in considered a top floor maisonette not a townhouse)

@notintowoo any reason why stairs should be a concern? You mention "accident waiting to happen" which is a bit odd. I've raised 3 DC in our current home including a disabled DC with mobility delay and the stairs have been fine.

You've been waiting 12 years. The questions you need to ask yourself are
how much longer will you wait and will a better proper ever be available? It's slim picking out there for social housing.

StepAwayFromGoogling · 31/07/2023 12:49

In fact, turn the house down, OP. Then someone who genuinely needs it and will very happy to have it will snap it up. Then you can sit around until infinity waiting for the council to hand you the perfect house in the perfect location. Because that's clearly what you think you deserve.

Rainbowqueeen · 31/07/2023 12:52

What does your DD wants? What does she need?

My DC are teens. They would love to have their own room, see me in my own room and be close to grandparents and school. Is your DD the same?

Her needs and wants should be your priority.

Change is always scary but you just need to take a deep breath and go for it. I really hope you take it.

CecilyP · 31/07/2023 12:53

The cleaning. Going up and down the stairs. Feeling worried (someone breaking in and I wouldn't be able to hear I'm all the way upstairs)

I don’t think those things would put me off. You like the area, it’s handy for work and school, you’ll have you own bedroom. Is it an old house thats been converted into 2 separate dwellings? When you say over 3 floors, do you mean your bathroom is on a sort of half landing? I’m trying to envisage it.

if the only toilet is in the bathroom, that would be the only thing that would put me off. In terms of selling in the unlikely event that you buy, it would probably sell better than a purpose built flat on an estate.

SusiePevensie · 31/07/2023 12:54

For God's sake, take it. Good location, reasonable rent, enough space. Have lived in similar set-ups and honestly you get used to the stairs fast.

Glenthebattleostrich · 31/07/2023 12:55

So at the moment you have no privacy or space. This place offers both in. good location. It's a no brainer for me. It also opens up the possibility of a house exchange. Take it.

willWillSmithsmith · 31/07/2023 13:00

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 09:02

But I have read that townhouse layouts are undesirable.

Show quote history

If you’re not buying it what does it matter if potential buyers would find the layout undesirable? You have to think about you and your daughter having a settled, permanent place to live not what hypothetical future house buyers think of it.

CharlotteBog · 31/07/2023 13:00

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 11:53

Show quote history

I think you need to look up the definition of desperate:

feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.
(of a person) having a great need or desire for something.

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