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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take council house or private rent?

130 replies

Needsomeadvicepleaze · 19/02/2024 18:56

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?

OP posts:
Youcannotbeseriousreally · 19/02/2024 23:06

Notamum12345577 · 19/02/2024 23:03

@Youcannotbeseriousreally Maybe she can’t earn more? Maybe she hadn’t got qualifications etc to get a high paying up? Also, I don’t know any single mothers who work full time.

They absolutely do exist. I did. Plus she’s already said she has a good job so she absolutely has the potential to earn more!

DragonFly98 · 19/02/2024 23:07

Why do your children need wardrobes many people use kallax boxes these days much easier.

Charlie2121 · 19/02/2024 23:07

Surely taking a council house when you have other options available is unethical.

Why should other taxpayers fund what is essentially a chosen option?

No wonder the country is skint.

HollaHolla · 19/02/2024 23:10

You'd be mad not to take the Council property. More stability, and security of tenancy. Save like mad, whilst you're paying the lower rent.
It's tough, but we can't all get affordable, enormous, properties.

Babyroobs · 19/02/2024 23:11

T0AST · 19/02/2024 19:15

So take it and then save up for a mortgage

It's pretty hard to save for a mortgage deposit on Universal credit because any savings over 6k mean a reduction in the monthly amount you receive and anything over 16k would stop the claim altogether.

Valtine2 · 19/02/2024 23:12

Charlie2121 · 19/02/2024 23:07

Surely taking a council house when you have other options available is unethical.

Why should other taxpayers fund what is essentially a chosen option?

No wonder the country is skint.

OP has decided to take the council house and rightly so. OP pays tax and so do the people who live in council houses too. Newsflash 🤣

Babyroobs · 19/02/2024 23:13

Charlie2121 · 19/02/2024 23:07

Surely taking a council house when you have other options available is unethical.

Why should other taxpayers fund what is essentially a chosen option?

No wonder the country is skint.

Taxpayers will be paying towards the Universal credit rent element whether it's council housing or private, maybe slightly more for the private rented accommodation but then they will only pay up to the local housing allowance anyway.

Valtine2 · 19/02/2024 23:13

@Babyroobs impossible more like

Ncflower · 19/02/2024 23:15

If you can afford to live in a Airbnb now you can afford private rental.

Seriously so entitled! There are so many other people waiting for council housing. Just rent a bigger place then and give the council housing to people who clearly need it more than you do.

tolerable · 19/02/2024 23:49

take council house-to get out the airbandb. look at it as new start-from now. more able to save if lower rent etc. plus if hate it, maybe able to swap OR if really hate it- rental private still option.
If you at work anyway you no gony be 24/7 init.

Whalesong · 19/02/2024 23:50

Needsomeadvicepleaze · 19/02/2024 20:32

Thanks everyone I’m going to take it and save as much as I can and hopefully have a deposit in a years time.

Will have to sell all my furniture in storage as it won’t fit so starting all over again.

I agree with everyone else that this is the right decision. Tell yourself that it's not forever, and save as much as you possibly can.

But one more piece of advice: don't put anything in storage as it will cost you more over a few years than the furniture is worth. Instead, try selling it for as much as you can. Even giving it away would be better in the long term. Speaking from experience.

SweetBirdsong · 20/02/2024 00:15

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 19/02/2024 18:58

If you’re going to be really bratty about the council house being ‘so small’ let someone who actually needs it and will be grateful have it and fork out for the extra - hope that works out for you!

First post nailed it. @Needsomeadvicepleaze Let someone have the secure social housing who actually deserves it. Take the private let.

AnotherDayAnotherDoller · 20/02/2024 00:22

I would go with the council tenancy. It's secure. And significantly cheaper.
You could explore storage solutions and ideas. Invest in flooring the loft and installing easy pull down ladders for handy storage.

AutumnColours9 · 20/02/2024 00:35

Council for sure
Small is fine and less.cleaning!

HMW1906 · 20/02/2024 01:54

Take the council house, save the difference in rent, that’s £4320 saved in a year plus anything else you can save, you could potentially have enough for a deposit within a few years (depending where you live/house prices in you area).

SouthEastCoast · 20/02/2024 02:02

£900 for : bedrooms… that’s insanely cheap for private dental, that’s £1600 upwards here.
private renting sucks but I would love to have just £600 rent.

Kokeshi123 · 20/02/2024 02:34

I'm glad to see you are taking the house.

Get the kids involved in a big declutter/freecycle purge. Small spaces are fine as long as you keep your stuff minimal.

justjuggling · 20/02/2024 02:57

Definitely go for the council house and look at ways to creatively maximise space and storage. I think the peace of mind a stable, secure home will give you is likely to outweigh any negativity about smaller rooms etc.

How old are your children?

Nimbus1999 · 20/02/2024 03:08

Good luck OP - try to have mindset that it is just a stopgap until you find your feet and can afford to buy / shared ownership on your own.

I’m in similar situation whereby having to downsize to a 2 bedroom or tiny 3 bedroom with 4 children. Just telling myself it’s only temporary (for a few years!) and we will make do best we can.

Itislate · 20/02/2024 04:32

take the council house and look at this website for help in how to organise the interior
https://www.melbabeetham.com/about

About — Melba Beetham Design

https://www.melbabeetham.com/about

rwalker · 20/02/2024 05:33

Sacrifice space for lower rent , security, right to buy and exchange options

it may be tough at first and take time to adjust but look at the full picture

private you could be out on your arse every year

MarieG10 · 26/04/2024 09:44

Needsomeadvicepleaze · 19/02/2024 18:56

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?

Council as private rents will continue soaring given Goves stupid ideas and Labour committed to do the same. Landlords are also selling up so hence why 10-40 people going after each property

Boomer55 · 26/04/2024 09:59

You’d be a fool to blow out social housing in favour of a private let. Take the council house. If it’s a new build, and in a nice area, you can always put in for an exchange.

Valtine2 · 26/04/2024 14:31

@Needsomeadvicepleaze how did you get on OP?

Mrsredlipstick · 03/05/2024 18:33

Look at shared ownership when you have some savings. A HR business partner is a professional position. We live near a commuter town. Shared ownership houses are about £300k for a three bed. Only a 5%deposit of the 50%share is needed. Within two years you would have that. We rented for 14 years. 9 landlords. Two decent, one convicted stalker and a non stable childhood for my DC.
We also had a £15k storage bill over two years!