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Original poster

Please help me decide on what to do regarding council housing

103 replies

whatdoido3 · 21/02/2024 19:49

Hello all, long term poster but changed names as outing.

We currently private rent, £1200 for a 2 bed ground floor maisonette (south east). We are a 5 minute walk from MIL & FIL and 10 minute drive from my parents (they are our main support system with childcare when needed etc). We have private rented since we got married at 22 and we are now 30 with a baby.

We have been on the council list for a number of years and we have just been offered a new build 2 bed flat for £804 a month.

We have only just moved to this flat and have with permission from the landlord decorated how we like it etc. we have an enclosed front garden which is perfect for 9 month old DD and our spaniel.

The flat we have been offered is 1st floor, no garden and we plan on having a second baby next year. My concerns are having a dog who I need to take up and down stairs to go to toilet, a 9 month old to carry up and down with shopping etc. plus another baby potentially next year or the following year.

What do we do in this situation? It would make a massive difference to us financially. We are scraping by right now and have some debt that we would be able to clear if we moved. We fell down the private renting hole and haven't managed to get out of it, we are unable to save due to cost of renting, paying debt off etc.

Honest advice please x

OP posts:
TiramisuTastesDreamy · 21/02/2024 19:52

What happens if you refuse the flat on the grounds there is nowhere for your child to play outside - is that allowed ? Do you go to the bottom of the list again ? or will they then offer you a different property ?

Floopani · 21/02/2024 19:53

Honestly, I would take the council housing. Your lovely 2 bed maisonette could be taken from you and you will have also given up your chance of council housing. The security of tenancy and improved finances surely trumps the inconvenience of no garden/taking shopping upstairs. You'll adapt to all that.

AnneLovesGilbert · 21/02/2024 19:54

That’s a huge saving a month. What happens about giving notice on your current place?

Fidgety31 · 21/02/2024 19:54

Take the council flat . You probably won’t get offered one again if you decline it .
you can swap / exchange in the future to a different council property that’s more
suitabke

kierenthecommunity · 21/02/2024 19:55

Are pets allowed at the flat? Some councils don’t allow them if there’s a communal entrance

Martinii · 21/02/2024 19:56

It sounds like you need to take the council place offered. If you're struggling financially now and have debt, surely planning another baby is madness as it'll add further pressure to finances.

DorisFlies · 21/02/2024 19:56

Take the Council offering - circumstances could change with your Landlord and you could be facing loss of your current home or rent increases that are unaffordable

Tiamaria86 · 21/02/2024 19:58

We were privately renting a lovely house and were slowly saving for a house deposit (high rent) but we were thinking oh this is fine we love it here and we will be able to buy eventually. We lived there 4 years and had a baby. Then bam, section 21 served when we had a newborn baby and we had 2 months to get out.

So yes your flat is lovely now but can be taken from you easily. So you need to also consider the security of a council property.

Balloonhearts · 21/02/2024 19:58

Why are you planning another baby if you are already struggling financially?

The flat doesn't sound suitable for you but then why did you bid on it? If you turn it down you may not be offered another.

Toopolitetoask · 21/02/2024 19:58

Take the council property.
If you decide to move from it in future, it'll be on your terms - you might be able to arrange a swap, or you might feel financially able to buy or afford a bigger rental place. But you'll have security of tenure.
If you stay in private rent your landlord can give notice whenever they want. They can put the rent up. They could sell the place on to a crappy landlord (assuming your current one is ok given you don't mention any issues)

AreolaGrande · 21/02/2024 19:59

Take the council house.

Don't have another baby that you can't afford.

SgtJuneAckland · 21/02/2024 19:59

Your current landlord could decide to sell up in six months time.
It sounds like if you move you might not have space for a second child but if you stay you might not be able to afford one anyway.
We decided to stick with one DC, because we could provide a more comfortable lifestyle that way. I'd take the council accommodation, you can clear your debt, save and you might get onto the property ladder one day, and can think about things like gardens etc. I know exchanging or trading up in council accommodation is near impossible. It's also new build so should be cheap to heat etc.

viques · 21/02/2024 19:59

I would take the flat. Secure tenancy and lower rent makes far more sense. Your landlord could decide to sell up tomorrow, you could be made homeless and find that you are only offered emergency accommodation be the council.. You will learn to manage babies, dog and stairs. Lots of families have no outside space but discover parks and play parks where they can meet other families and children.

notknowledgeable · 21/02/2024 20:01

move! Yes you will be carrying a baby up and down the stairs for a year or two, but you have secure housing for the rest of your life, and for your children's entire childhood. They wont need carrying up and down the stairs for most of it

SharedAccountWithMySister · 21/02/2024 20:03

How long is the minimum term of your current private let?

QuiltedHippo · 21/02/2024 20:04

If you were in a house you'd be lugging kids up and down stairs multiple times a day anyway 😊

EternalSunshine19 · 21/02/2024 20:05

Take the council flat. You don't have to stay in it forever. You can swap with someone else for a different place, or a bigger place once you have another baby (someone else might want to downsize due to bedroom tax).

Freeme31 · 21/02/2024 20:06

Take council flat for your families future security

19lottie82 · 21/02/2024 20:06

It’s one floor!

you’ll save almost £5k a year and have a secure tenancy.

to me, it’s a no brainer.

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 21/02/2024 20:07

Take the council flat. If you need to move in the future, you can do a home swap

KissyMissy · 21/02/2024 20:08

19lottie82 · 21/02/2024 20:06

It’s one floor!

you’ll save almost £5k a year and have a secure tenancy.

to me, it’s a no brainer.

Take this advice!
Secure housing and you can save..definitely a no brainier.

Original poster
whatdoido3 · 21/02/2024 20:08

Sorry to answer some questions, the having a second baby is a potential if we clear our debt etc. we would never bring a baby into the world that we couldn't afford to provide for. Our baby now has everything she needs, we are lucky that we can afford a roof over our heads, heating and food. She doesn't go without but we are JUST getting by. I know that this is a blessing considering the COL crisis in this country means that some people cannot afford essentials.

If I turn this down after viewing, I will be offered 2 more properties at some point but 3 is the limit to turn down.

I bid on the property because honestly, we just need somewhere affordable to live with some security so I think you've all helped me to answer my own question.

OP posts:
Original poster
whatdoido3 · 21/02/2024 20:10

Also, pets are allowed with permission. I spoke to the housing officer and explained that he's a 9 year old spaniel and we've had him since a puppy and he said this is not a problem at all.

OP posts:
dammit88 · 21/02/2024 20:11

I would take it too :)

Leafytrees · 21/02/2024 20:12

Turn it down and make sure you only bid on suitable properties in future.

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