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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to move to a house in a mankier area, but half the rent - council house too...

42 replies

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 10:46

well, been on the council list for agggges, paying £550pcm on the house we're in at the moment, just had a phone call offereing us a council house. problem is its in a really manky area. but (and heres the kicker) its half the rent that we are paying at the mo. dh really doesnt want to go (because of the area) but i think we should, if only so we can save some cash.

we are both f/t students and money is stupidly tight. struggling for rent this month!

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Original poster

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 11:06

and when i say manky, i mean really, really bad.

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agnesnitt · 27/02/2008 11:07

Areas change and you're not going to be students forver so you always move when you're finished studying and are in whatever jobs you're wanting to be in. I'd personally make the move. A home is what you make of it really. The only caveat I'd post is that if it's a truly violent area you may want to be careful.

Agnes

MarmiteMe · 27/02/2008 11:09

Hmm tough one.
Personally I wouldn't. I have a private rental but a couple of girls in the street were given new build council houses recently.
Their rent is cheaper, houses are nicer and they were given money to decorate, However it's rough as anything on that estate. Gangs of kids, gluesniffing on the corner, drugs, drinking teens, dog shit smeared on the shops, graffitti etc.

I'd rather be here in a nice safe place where DD can play out.

Original poster

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 11:13

it is really really bad. regular gang fights's young lad was beaten up with a steering wheel lock last week. i see what he's saying, but im just thinking about the cash we save. especially if we move to edinburgh in september, will need every penny for the move!

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needmorecoffee · 27/02/2008 11:15

if you#'re both f/t students then will the area really bother you?
I lived in Bethnal Green in London during my degree and failed to notice gand attacks, shootings etc cos I was at uni or in the student bar the whole time!

GetOrfMoiLand · 27/02/2008 11:16

No, I would really be with your dh on this one (and I speak as someone who has poured thousands of pounds into landlords' coffers over the years). I do understand how frustrating it is to be paying so much money, but I think peace of mind and happiness is to be more highly prized.

If you move to somewhere that, as you say, is terrible, you will probably find it very stressfull to live there. How old are your dcs? Take into account that they may ot be able to play out. Plus there will probably be a higher level of crime, neigjbour noise and other antisocial behaviour.

Mym mum lived in a council house with my little brother for a time and absolutely hated and loathed it the entire time she was there. And this was a very small estate in a small town in Devon, not a high rise sink estate in an inner city. She soon high tailed it out of there and went back into private rental, even though it was twice the cost. She just hated the debilitating effect living on an estate had on her life.

I think if you have a choice and can afford to stay where you are I would stay put. You won't be students forever and your finances will hopefully imrpove in due course. And presumably you will still be allowed to stay on the council list and wait if there is another offering in the future (or am I completely wrong with this??)

Tortington · 27/02/2008 11:17

maybe you coud ask some questions of the council and get some guarentees in writing.

they will have a "minimum lettings standard" - ask them for this - this will give them an indication that you have some insider knowledge or have done your research. this might (fingers crossed) help you get a decent standard tothe house itself before you move in.

you ca ask where the property is on the "cyclical refurbishment list" ie - when is it likely you get a new kitchen and bathroom.

you ca ask them what they know of the wider plans for the area.

you can ask them if they have a policy of helping with moving costs.

its unlikley but not unheard of - if they are desperate to get rid of a void in a bad area - then your actually in quite a good position.

non of that helps with actually giving you an opinion on whether you should or not - i guess only you can have the timeline in your head as t when you are going to finish studies and be able to buy a house.

magnolia74 · 27/02/2008 11:17

Personally I think you are mad if you take it.
I have lived on a bad Estate and it took 2 years to get moved, would never live somewhere like that again no matter how much money we would save. My sanity and kids are way more important.

But if its temporary and you are definately moving again in September then maybe it wouldnt be too bad

nickytwotimes · 27/02/2008 11:18

Hmmmmm. I live in a slightly manky area, but there's no "real" trouble, more run down really, but it meant a big house and garden so was worth the compromise. If it's only till September, it might be worth it, but you have to be sure you can put up with the noise and disturbances. It can really hurt your mental well-being. I lived in an area in Aberdeen which was dreadful and ended up on Prozac in a matter of months!

Original poster

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 11:22

thanks everyone, especially custy.

we are going to have a look at it to see just how bad it is and where it is in relation to the rest of the street

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EsmeWeatherwax · 27/02/2008 11:23

I wouldn't. It sounds like you only have a few more months of renting anyway before you move, and imo its wouldn't be worth the hassle you could face. If its really that bad, you would be constantly worrying about your kids if they ventured outside, not to mention yourself and your dh. No way would I do it.

Tortington · 27/02/2008 11:29

often on estates ( if it s an estate) the quality can vary on even the part of the street

i lived on a street and i lived in the cul-de-sac ( that was a good bit!PMSL) just 10 yards away was the part o the street the whole estate called "beirut"

have some more questions for you to ask

ask them if they do estate inspections

ask them how residents can get involved - without becomming hte estate nonce - yo can act as a pressure tool to get things done - housing officers get royally fucked off at moaning tenants reporting things

sugarpear · 27/02/2008 11:30

i can understand wanting to move to save on rent but with a child i wouldn't move to a mank area. Also with moving cost and redecorating and re carpeting and curtains to fit it could cost you more in the long run. And if you are looking to exchange in september (?) your best best is to stay where you are.

Goodluck with it all.

Original poster

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 11:53

it is eligable for a decorating voucher, but dh has just bought up a story about a 2yo girl being stoned there a while back.

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nickytwotimes · 27/02/2008 11:56

if your lo is in any danger of getting hurt or upset, you'd probably be best to leave well alone!

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 27/02/2008 11:57

It depends if it actually is a really bad area or just that you've heard it is.

I think you make wherever you live your home and get used to any unpleasantness. I have lived in a rough part of Brixton , an appallingly bad suburb of Paris where there were huge racial tensions and a grotty flat block in Barcelona
I have never felt scared or worried, the majority of the time it is gangs or teens that have an agenda between themselves so they are no threat to anyone else.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 27/02/2008 11:59

I also found a much better sense of community living in 'grotty' areas, and made friends with some lovely neighbours. It is very different now we are in a posh area.

Sidge · 27/02/2008 12:03

I would say it depends on what you mean by manky. If it's just grotty in appearance then maybe think about it, what's behind your front door is more important.

But street gangs, intimidation and violence would be a no-no for me. If it's true about a 2 year old getting stoned (I assume you mean having stones thrown at her!) then that is totally unacceptable to me and no amount of rent reduction would be worth it.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 27/02/2008 12:04

Sidge thats true, I hadn't read that post.

chopchopbusybusy · 27/02/2008 12:05

I wouldn't.

From what you have said you are only going to be there for 6 months. Even doing the move yourselves it will presumably still cost money - so maybe one months rent savings gone for that. It's eligible for a decorating voucher - is it worth decorating for a few months?

princessosyth · 27/02/2008 12:07

I take it that you are currently in private rented accommodation? If the area is really manky I wouldn't take it, you never know in a couple of months you could be offered another home in a better area, I think if I remember rightly that you are allowed to say no a couple of times and stay on the list.

A few years ago my sister was offered a house in a really bad area, she was even advised by the council not to take it and stay on the list as the area was so bad but she took it as she didn't want to wait and it was not nice, nearly all of her neighbours were drug dealers and very aggressive. Eventually she was rehoused to a much nicer area because of threats from the neighbours (she dared to call the police on them!). I would wait if you can.

GetOrfMoiLand · 27/02/2008 12:07

I assumed that the 2 year old was stoned as in inhaling smoke from reefers not stoned in the biblical sense.

Actually, what does it matter it's both pretty appalling

chopchopbusybusy · 27/02/2008 12:07

Should have added my main reason for not wanting to do it would be the violent incidents.

purpleflower · 27/02/2008 12:12

I live on a very run down estate with a very bad reputation. We chose to live here as the rent is cheaper. It's really not as bad as the reputation it has. I did get worried when afetr one month of living here there was an unexplained death over the road, but that was not anything too sinister.

I've always said as long as there is a lock on your door its not too much of a problem but then I am not in a big city!

Original poster

OracleInaCoracle · 27/02/2008 13:47

well, have been. its toward the end of the road and is eligable for a £180 decorating voucher. the area is coming up for regeneration, and tbh it wasnt as bad as we thought. dh isnt keen, but i am. i could walk to college from there so would save another £30pw in travel and lunch. the house itself is nice, but the only problem is the area.

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