Can’t afford to carpet my council house

[Florafloral]

I have recently moved into a council house with my 5 year old after being made homeless. It’s a new build so All rooms are painted which I’m grateful for but I can’t afford to carpet it. It’s concrete flooring throughout which is impossible to keep clean, is very powdery and dusty. It’s making our clothes and furniture dusty too. I applied for a grant for flooring with the council but was turned down because my DD isn’t under 3 and we have no health conditions. Does anyone have any tips or how I can try and get cheap flooring. I’ve been quoted over £2000 for the whole house. It just seems impossible

If no one has suggested it already ikea do massive carpet rugs

For anyone shocked by the council not fitting carpets. If the OPcarpets the place beautifully and then in 10 years moves out, the council will rip up the carpets before a new tenant moves in

The flooring could be down a month and they'll still rip it up and throw it in a skip before the house is re-tenanted. It's disgustingly wasteful. I had lumps torn out of my skirting boards because they also lifted laminated flooring. As pps suggested, signing a waiver would save the next tenant a fortune.

I’m wondering if I should be eligible now tbh. They said it’s because I don’t have any health conditions that cause trips or falls but I am under the podiatrist for Plantar fasciitis and I also have pain that goes up my leg. From research this can cause falls but I’ve never actually fell. It’s just really painful in my heel after rest

Sorry, without any other medical conditions (such an inflammatory/automimmune or connective tissue disease you see a consultant for), something most frequently caused by wearing inadequate footwear isn't going to count.

You'll be fine with just doing bits as you go along.

Thank you, that makes sense. Im just not sure why they didn’t tell me the criteria before I applied and there was no information to tell you this on their website. They just asked for lots of bank statements without actually checking if I was eligible or not until I’d finished sending them

Get a cheap rug for one room at a time

Not sure if anyone has suggested this but when we were in the same position after being homeless we got carpets via council and I think they charged us £9/week. They put us on for 5 years.

Are you in Scotland or England OP? There is a scheme near me which helps get flooring but I’m in Scotland.

There's a pay weekly carpet place that covers Sheffield area if you're near there

I have been in your exact position. We moved into a HA flat in February and still haven’t carpeted everywhere.

We have done it room by room prioritising which we spend the most time in. Before we ordered the first carpet we got a big rug from tesco on clubcard offer for £30. We did the front room first, then our bedroom (kids sleep with us and play in front room so their room wasn’t a priority), now we are carpeting theirs tomorrow. That just leaves the hallway which we are saving for so we can get vinyl.

We got the carpets from onlinecarpets quite cheap (think around £300 for the 3 rooms). The carpet is quite thin so have put some rugs down too but it’s felt back so no need for underlay. We also have been installing it ourselves which has cut the cost down. We have never done it before but there’s tutorials online and we got carpet glue, carpet knife and masks from amazon. It’s hard work but worth it to cut the cost down. We were quoted around £1500 for 3 rooms, hallway and installation.

Hi, why don't you approach your local church? I know they would rally around and try and find a solution for you. A church that runs stuff already in the community is probably a good place to start. I know in all the churches I've gone to if someone approached us for help we would genuinely be delighted to help. It sounds so tough for you.

This is standard. Apparently flooring other than concrete and naked floorboards is a luxury. Seal the concrete with some PVA if you can’t afford proper sealant.

This true but down here all new social housing properties are tiled down stairs when they ar built. It is much easier to deal with floor boards upstairs. As others have said try the free sites on Facebook.

Just how big is your house and what kind of carpet are you buying?

Try Carpetright. We bought a carpet similar to their Dynasty Twist carpet, currently retailing at £8.99 per square meter.

UKCarpet mills currently do underlay from £2.89 per square meter.

I know we got fitting quotes both from Carpetright and directly from independent carpet fitters. (Like the ones contracted by companies like carpetright).

The independent fitter advised us on underlay for that carpet, as did Carpetright.

But ultimately we bought the carpet from Carpetright and bought the underlay where the independent fitter advised us (not directly through him, but we "mentioned" his name.) And the independent carpet fitter fitted the carpet.

That was 18 years and 3 children and 3 dogs and lots of sleepovers ago. It's still looking good, but we will probably replace it in the next 2-5 years.

But absolutely no way will I be spending £2K to re-carpet our home.

PS: Find a neutral colour and carpet your entire house in that one carpet.

Do things one room at a time.
You can get some large area rugs really cheap off of Amazon. There are some that are 3mx2m and they’re currently 50% off - so around £40.

Op you have been given lots and lots of advice I'm sure something here will work for you seems like you only want the grant though. Just do one room at a time your child's room first... you are lucky there are even grants available in your area there are no grants for carpet where I am you would only be able to get a loan which needs paying back. With all the suggestions I'm sure one will work.

I'd be tempted to lay down some cardboard as a temporary solution to dust and to insulate the floor a bit. We've done that for a few weeks when moving/decorating before.

post in freecycle, Facebook groups and olio. You might be surprised what you get offered. Also post requests. Someone may have some off cuts of carpet or tiles or rugs they haven’t got around to advertising and you might save them a job.

OP, sorry for your dilemma. Sorry, I also haven't read all the replies, but carpet might look and feel nice and cosy, but it isn't always best. I find that it creates dust which can get into children's airways especially when the heating is on. Also while your little one is still young consider a well fitted wood look lino in the short term. That'll be much easier to keep clean too.

Are you on any free-cycle groups on facebook? Check these out! People often give away really nice stuff! If you could get a few nice carpets for the livingroom and the bedrooms that would be a good start!

Speak with a carpet fitter instead of a carpet shop. Many of them provide carpet too at a much much cheaper price. Just choose your most important rooms - living room and child's bedroom for now.

Or maybe look at painting the floor to seal it.

I'm sorry you're in situation, you shouldn't be, carpet is a basic essential.
Your council should be helping if only to point you in the right direction for support!
Try these guys below, they may be able to help you look in your local area for help.

Best wishes to you both..

https://endfurniturepoverty.org/get-help-with-furniture/

Painted concrete looks really nice OP, could you do that?

Could you start a crowdfunder? I know it feels painful but sure a few of us on here could chuck you a tenner!

Try Payday Flooring. You can only get about 700 credit at first, but you can pay back weekly from ten quid. You have to pay fifty deposit and fitting costs up front. It's worth a look.