Declining townhouse layout?

[notintowoo]

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?

Is this the same poster who posted about an extra similar sounding property a couple of months or so ago? They also had a 12y and lived in a small 1 bed flat, though that was a ds not a dd iirr.

I thought council properties went quickly but, if same person, this dilemma has been going on for 3 months.

You say the rent and location work well for you.

Op - you're sleeping in the living room and kitchen where you are. Surely you don't want to continue with that.

I'd have thought a 3 storey maisonette must be better than what you and your child have right now.

You're excuses for declining are pretty weak:

Cleaning the stairs - get a handheld cleaner.

Accidents on stairs - almost all houses have stairs, unless a bungalow or another flat. We have a 3 storey and we aren't regularly having accidents on them!

Resell - you're not planning on buying it. No one would force you to buy the property if you decided it wasn't your dream home anyway.

Toilet on ground floor - admittedly annoying but it is still a better home than you're current setup ime. You're both young and able it seems. You'll adapt to it quickly. We didn't have an upstairs bathroom growing up - it was a non issue.

Security - ring door bell and/or camera, chain across door as well as always keeping the door locked. Burglar alarm if possible - can set it so it's in at night but only in ground floor and windows for example.

Fear of the unknown - well that's going to be the same regardless of what you're offered.

Unpopularity of townhouses - well, it doesn't sound like a townhouse, more of a maisonette. However, regardless - townhouses sell well here and have remained popular. Where I live they sell quickly and for above asking price.

If you decline, you may be waiting another few years for anything more suitable. You've already declined two properties - will they even keep offering you more and more?

I'd accept and enjoy having much more room, with better privacy for both you and your child.

Have I read this before... down to being worried about someone breaking in due to the layout?

Theres a good chance you only got this as someone higher up the list turned it down - if you turn it down its likely you wont get another offer.

Is the potential difficulty of possible resale (so 3 years to minimum discount, much much longer to max. discount, then another 5 years before you can sell it without repaying that discount or some % of it - potentially 10+ years away) REALLY more important than a bigger property in the right area, right now?

The right to buy 'timer' starts when you live in council property, so if you move to another council property, you continue to build up that time that counts towards your RTB and discount.

If I was in your position, I would take it and make it my home.

For security, you can easily put up a video camera doorbell. If you’re worried about the stairs, you can easily pop up a Stairgate.

Instead of being worried about your next step in life, be excited, it’s a whole new adventure for you and your child.

Good luck

It's the right size, right price and in the right location. You'd be a fool to turn it down. Your friend doesn't have to live in it. You don't have to buy it.

I think you'll love it.

I think I'd been on the council housing register for 12 years, was living in a studio/one bed flat with a 12-year-old child, and a property had come up that was of a suitable size, condition. budget and location, I would honestly not give even the tiniest of shits about the layout.

You're not going to buy it, so resale value is of zero consequence. So you have to go upstairs to get to a kitchen. So what? Better than living in a studio flat with an almost-teenager for the next 12 years. You don't think the layout is 'desirable'? Sounds a lot more desirable than your current living arrangements.

@notintowoo have you used stairs before? Like ever? How many accidents have you had on them?

It sounds lovely. I lived in similar (though a whole house) for years, perfectly comfortably. I don’t understand why you’d turn it down.
Also, why do you call it a flat? It’s not.

Maybe she’s a Dalek.

Decline so that someone who actually needs it can have it. It will be snapped up in no time. You can’t need it that much if you’re going to decline it over stairs

I'd go for it. If you decline you may wait another 12 years.
Can't help wondering are you being serious being on the list, if you refuse a decent property.

😜

I collect muddled metaphors. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" becomes, with a friend of mine, "Don't kick a gift horse in the teeth". She also says "It's like pulling hen's teeth", and, if her kid has been upset by an insult, gravely intones "Sticks and stones don't break no bones".

Basically OP, you can't be in genuine need if you demur over this house.

Yeah, I'd follow the wise friend's advice and wait for an ex-council property from the council. 🤔

If you need somewhere to live - and are not able to buy/rent yourself suitable accommodation but have been offered why would you turn it down?

If you wait another 12 years your daughter will probably have moved out and you won't need anything other than the 1 bed place your in now - at 12 I imagine some space to study or have a friend over would be a benefit to her, I wouldn't assume you will get a better offer.

I’d snap their hand off in your shoes. Living in a studio flat with a 12yo must be really tough! I would buy a deadbolt for the front door and a video doorbell if you’re worried about security. I think the bathroom being downstairs is one of those things that you’d stop noticing within a few months. Cleaning is a non issue. In terms of the layout I’d be more put off (though would still go for it) if the kitchen and sitting room weren’t on the same level personally. It sounds fine!

OP in our council, if you reject two properties you go to the bottom of the list. I can’t understand why the layout is a dealbreaker. You’ve not got a baby or toddler, neither you or DD have mobility issues or extra needs I’m presuming that would make stairs risky. You will never be offered your perfect property. Every house or flat council/HA and private, will have some aspect you would prefer not to have. Your friend isn’t living in the house. Many families live in maisonettes and town houses. Even those with very young families. It’s not a rare design. Just take it for both your sakes. I can’t get my head round not doing so.

You have waited 12 years on a council waiting list to rent a home.

You are now being very picky about a home that suits you for some pretty main reasons, work and school.

When did social housing clientele become so picky? Just look for your ideal home on the private rental list and leave the social housing for people who want a home at a decent lower rent? There you go.

People should go to the bottom of the list for rejecting good homes that others are crying out for. Then they should be booted off the list. It's social housing not a wish list for a dream home, entitled much!

I would 110% take it in your scenario. We have a townhouse but bathrooms on all bar the middle floor. It’s great for noise reduction.

Its a maisonette rather than a townhouse. I would absolutely take it - why wouldnt you? It would give you and your DD a bedroom each in a great location for you.

Stop listening to your 'friends'. You are not in a position to buy it so dont listen to what other people think about selling it in the future.

If you were to turn it down you would either be removed from the waiting list, or go right down to the bottom of it and maybe wait another 12 years for another opportunity to move.

The best thing you can do for your DD is move her into her own room near your parents so accept the property for her if you cant do it for yourself.

Bumcake · Today 13:16

Maybe she’s a Dalek.

Brilliant

Be good excercise at least climbing all those stairs. The only thing that would put me off is the kitchen being upstairs. You would have to get your fridge and washing machine upstairs with no lift. But you could just take it then see about a swap with someone who wants to move to that location. We have a local council house Facebook group. There's always some on there wanting to swap.

Bloody hell OP. This isn't a time to be picky.

Lots of the population live in them and pay a hefty amount to do so. In my area, they go for over £500k a pop.

I think you're being too picky. If your current place is suitable, then take yourself off the register. If it's not, then take an appropriate place that's offered to you; like this one.

If stairs were an accident waiting to happen @notintowoo why don't we all live in bungalows. There are those for whom single story living is a necessity but really? I have never lived in a house as an adult with fewer than 3 floors. It's fine.

From what I have read I think you really should take this house. Change can be an anxious time but compared to what you have and the location etc I do think it sounds like a fantastic opportunity

OP you need to accept that anywhere you move will have stairs.

Bungalows and ground floor flats are extremely rare and councils generally reserve them for disabled or elderly people. You will not be offered either as an able-bodied adult with a secondary age child.

Houses have stairs.

The next place you are offered (if you are ever offered another place) could have many more stairs. If three flights of private indoor stairs are so terrifying then how will you feel about a communal stairwell in a high-rise?

Do what is right for your poor daughter and accept this lovely desirable maisonette.