To take council house or private rent?

[Needsomeadvicepleaze]

Recently split up with DH and I have been lucky enough to be offered a council property. It is a new build and it’s absolutely tiny I don’t know I can live there with 3 children. By time I put wardrobes and drawers in the room they will be a small bit of floor space.

The living room is absolutely shocking! It will just be a sofa and TV as there is no space for a coffee table or any little cupboards.
its £600 a month

The private rented property is with a company so I will still have stability. It Has lots of space and a utility and storage something the council property doesn’t.
Its £960 a month but I understand I will receive some housing support.

WWYD?

You’re twisting things to fit your own narrative! Not once did I say I wasn’t grateful. I have 3 children and this house is very very small.

I own my home, but I did private rent for a year. I said afterwards that I'd rather buy a shed to live in, then rent again. I just couldn't stand having a landlord. But that was private rent. I would definitely go with the council house if I was you.

Take the council house, save the difference in rent and give it up when you have a deposit saved and can buy. The new build will have lower bills too I imagine

I said you need to earn more. Which you do. So I was right.

seriously OP. Read the room.

I know people have been on the housing list for 10+ years (who still haven't been offered anywhere) and would rather have a small house than have to pay the rent they do/risk being asked to leave at any point.

If you know you won't like it and can afford private rent then that seems like the right choice for you but it will sound a bit silly to a lot of people.

Sounds like you were quite lucky to be offered a council place so quickly.

I'd take the new build council house in a heartbeat!
Assume its 3 bedroom if you have 3 children.
The security will be so important you could be moving the kids every 12 months in a private rented place worst case scenario.
And.once in you might be able to exchange with someone for a larger property with the same number of bedrooms.

How many bedrooms is it op?

There are so many waiting lists for council properties so I would be tempted to take it if it were me. You’ve got more secure housing with less chance of massive rent increases. You can always see if you can exchange for a more spacious property later on down the line as im sure a lot of people would
be keen on a new build.

lol brains of Britain! Your clearly too good for council housing let someone else have it! And you will remain stuck in private rent for many years sometimes you’ll afford it sometimes you won’t!

I would take the council house OP, so many private landlords have sold up, you could find yourself having to move again after a year, with the council, that worry will be eliminated. Some friends have privately rented for many years and out of the blue, section 21, they would love the security of a council house.

Do you expect to have a large house cheap as chips?

Council house all day long.

Have smaller furniture. Bunk beds with the desks and wardrobes underneath, ottoman bed for you. Built in beds. Buy Kallax and create raised beds with storage and a play area underneath.

Multi use furniture like folding dining table with stools not chairs so they can be tucked underneath more easily. Wall mounted folding away desks are amazing for kids who need to use them for homework them after school.

Minimise clutter and junk / tat toys for kids. Kallax again with a box or two per child for toys / tat.

Get clever with it.

What are the sizes of these rooms?

Can you do a floor plan with room sizes?
I’d be tempted to take the council house. But if you feel you really can’t live in it and you can afford the other, then do that. But you might not get the chance again.

Don’t be ridiculous. The system is not broken because a mum with 3 children is worried about how she’ll cope in a very small house. She is entitled to have a view. The system is broken because there aren’t enough council properties and certainly not enough for people with families.

OP, the one thing I would say is you can always go for a swap with a council property and you have security. Does it have a garden? If it does, try and see that as an extra room in the summer.

OP, what on earth gives you the idea that renting from a company is going to give you stability?

As pp has said, they might still put your rent up by an unreasonable amount and you could still lose your tenancy if they decide to sell off some property, which a lot of landlords are currently doing. And there is definitely no guarantee that a company would fix anything any better or quicker than a small scale landlord or the council.

Also have you considered that with this company you are going to need a hefty deposit? Do you know how reliable they are about paying it back to you at the end of your tenancy, or are they likely to try to hang on to it if anything is not exactly the way it was when you took over the tenancy.

You seem a bit sneery about the little council house but if you look at all the options of renting you might find it's the safest and most secure option.

However, if you don't want it I'm sure there's another person/couple who are far more desperate for a home than you are, so let them have it.

Take the council house. Set aside the extra money you are saving in rent to put towards a really well thought out furniture plan. Think lofted beds, wall mounted television. Even consider using some of the savings to rent storage and swap items out seasonally.

Did she say that? No she didn’t. YOU said it. My god, the nastiness on this thread is horrible to see.

So take it and then save up for a mortgage

It depends what’s more important to you, absolute stability a council house will bring or the extra space. You should check on entitled to website to see how much you’ll have to pay towards it. Council houses are not easy to get, though maybe they are in your neck of the woods given you’ve been offered one. If you want the space go for the private

Take the council house
you could always out yourself on the council house list for an exchange. I bet a lot would jump at the chance of a new build

I have rented both private and council and I would say council house 100%. It's never really your 'home' when privately renting as you have to even ask permission to put a picture on the wall.

I’d also look at IKEA as they have great solutions for storage. Everyone is being a bit mean, because I guess most people would have given their right arm for a council property when their relationship broke down. Private renting can be tough, I’m not sure about companies as I’ve always rented from private landlords. I guess if you might be able to buy or shared ownership if you can save a deposit, take the council and hire some storage if going to be a couple of years. If it’s permanent renting maybe go for bigger space if it’s genuinely tiny. You still have a right to choose, even if people do think you’d be crazy giving up a brand new, much cheaper rental new build. You’ve got to go with what you think you’re going to be happier with.

Why bother posting when you've clearly already made up your mind!

If you can get HB to boost the rent on the private one then take that. It clearly seems closer to your needs. Let someone who really desperately needs it take the council flat. I'll have it? Haha.

The problem with a private rental is the landlord could decide to sell up next month and you'll be out on your ear with sod all recourse.

If you don't take the council house, tbh you're mad.