To turn down council property?

[Dipitlow]

I have been offered a council flat (recently split with partner) 2 children,
living with parents at the moment. If I decline what are my chances of being offered another one? I didn’t bid on it they have bidded for me? Do I just take it? Or should I private rent?

If you’ve got the money to rent, then rent. You’ll be unlikely to get a council property in the exact area you want, that’s the right size and that’s acceptable to you.

If you need a specific location then I think you need to accept you’ll have to rent privately. That’s the downside of a social tenancy: you have to take what’s available, not what you’d ideally choose. If you’re allowed to reject the offer without penalty - and you need to check that with the council - there’s no guarantee the next one is going to be preferable, and you won’t be allowed to continue rejecting offers.

not from the Uk so just wanting to understand how this works.

so if you don’t have the money to private rent you may be eligible for council housing.
but then in a year’s time you are in a great job, do you then surrender the council house? Or can you end up with people earning really good money in council housing that they got when they were poor?
if this is the case then is that not a bit weird?

OP - council house is more secure than renting privately. If you accept it you may be able to swap later on

Council housing isn't just for poor people.

Many people are working and living in Council housing.

It's secure accommodation, and you don't have to give it up even if you were millionaire. It's not weird, everyone deserves a secure home.

Council housing was never intended to be just for the poor and desperate- it was originally for anyone who wanted it (typically the working classes).

However, since Right to Buy was introduced there is a severe shortage of social housing and councils are forced to prioritise who it goes to- usually those most in need. Once housed , your tenancy can be either for a fixed period or for life.

In recent years, rents have shot up- private far more than social- so it is entirely possible that someone can afford social rent but not private.

The expectation would be that you take it especially if you are a Band A and therefore in ‘desperate need of housing’
Distance from parents, whether you like the area, proximity to child care or work, or kids may needing to move schools won’t come into it. Not with Social housing.
I doubt you will be offered a place again.
And to keep your Band A by rights you should be bidding on three properties a week in your local connection area and be prepared to accept any of them. Wherever they are.

I knew a woman that turned down a council home because of the same reasons.
She went on to rent and the landlord asked her to leave 12 months later she found another let but the rent went sky high.
Moved back in with her mum.
It took 6 years from the day she said no to the first offer to get offered another H/A home and she did not turn it down.
You can always swap homes with someone after 12 months.

I live in a H/A flat and it took 5 years to get it and no money would get me to leave it either.
I was also offered my flat on a not so nice estate but over the years ive been here ive not had any problems tbh i really like it now.
So many people would grab that flat op and make it a home.
I know i would have many years ago due to having such wankers has landlords.
And being in private lets never felt like it was really mine.
Now for the past 10 years i have felt like i have a home that is mine.

Ask the council?

After a year could get on HomeSwap
sites and do exactly that.

Childcare is a temporary problem, a council flat will give you long term housing security with options down the line for things like housing swaps. Be very very sure you’ve thought about 3 years from now not just what’s happening today.

Depends which area, some (like mine) allow 3 refusals although I think this has dropped to 2... other areas don't allow any and you either take it or you're off the list.
Personally I would take it as you may not get another opportunity

Don't private rent unless you think you'll be able to afford to buy in the near future

So why are people saying the OP shouldn’t get a council house if they can afford to pay private rent?

The official line may be it won’t impact this time but must accept if offered again or lose your Banding.
But what will really happen next time a place comes up is that some one else will be prioritised as your need is clearly not that great.
Remember, It’s people (like me ) in a council office making the decisions not an algorithm - many of which know how to sift the real need for housing people from those who want it but only under certain conditions.

If op is fussy about the area then she will get more choice with private rent.

The council won't take things like childcare, schools, being near family etc into account when offering a home.

OP said it was a flat in rough area, who would want to swap to that?!

You are not desperate if you are turning down a property, are you?

So if there is a shortage wouldn’t one solution be to surrender the house if you earn over a certain amount? So there is enough for those in need? Why are rich people living in these houses whilst poor and needy are in emergency housing?

moving houses a couple of times in life is normal in the UK yes?

This will entirely depend on your council, you need to look up their policy.

In mine, due to the banding I was on, I was coming 1st or 2nd in all applicable properties and policies made it very clear that turning down one would mean I'd be unlikely to stay where I was on the list. They never bid on any for me though which meant I was very careful as to what I did bid on because I knew it would be very highly likely that I'd be offered it and that is exactly what happened when I did bid.

I wouldn’t risk turning it down. Your parents not driving wouldn’t be considered a valid reason.

How far is it from where you are currently?

What is your plan if the next offers made are equally as far?

Ask them if you would get another offer if you turned it down, but be aware that your next offer may not be as good, and youd be more sensible to take the flat and make the most of it.

There’s multiple reasons people swap, usually to be closer to family networks or work.
A lot of SH in cities are in so-called ‘rough areas’ it’s the nature of the beast.

Desperation doesn't mean abandoning all practicality. If the offered house is too far from the only childcare support OP has, it could make working impossible. Being desperate doesn't mean you should make a choice that sets you up to fail.

Some of the replies here really lack empathy. Must be great to be able to judge people in these positions. Maybe save your pitchforks for the people running the country/systems instead of those simply trying to survive in it.

Vanishingly few "rich" people are living in social housing in the UK!!

But would you want to remove all incentive for people to better themselves?! I know quite a few people who are living in social housing and are now "comfortable", although few who would be able to buy their own house. But their situation has generally improved because they have affordable, secure housing- so the solution isn't to throw them out and make their situation insecure again- it's to build more social housing so everyone has the chance of getting some.