Page 10 | Offered council house in a not very good area?

fishtank12345 · 05/11/2025 13:03

rhinnq · 05/11/2025 10:31

@Tdcpyes it really is difficult to rent privately these days.
It is so competitive because I believe landlords are selling and there are less rental properties and more demand.

A few times there have been "bidding wars" as well and we have been asked to provide a max price for the final offer.

On a few occasions we have been advised that the house is gone due to someone accepting the property after watching a video tour, it's just so hard.

After the Renters Bill comes into force I bet it will be even harder and rents will go sky high.

If I were you I'd take the council place and make it your own. A less desirable area is better than land lord selling up under you and ending up homeless ( see my post above re land Lords selling ) keep to yourselves don't get involved with neighbours.

fishtank12345 · 05/11/2025 13:08

rhinnq · 04/11/2025 21:40

I have friends that live in the area and they have all advised me to refuse it as they say "I would be crazy to live there" I think that's what is putting me off.

I have been to the area in the day time and it dosent seem that bad but apparently night time is different.
There is a lot of drug user and drug dealers who frequent the area, the area is well known for that.

So it's a dangerous area... ok I guess don't take it then. If it is that bad. Im sorry you are in this position. Housing is a mess in this country now.

JenniferBooth · 05/11/2025 13:25

Eigen · 05/11/2025 10:06

Councilista who doesn’t want council house in bad area which is probably bad because it’s full of other councilistas is peak mumsnet

I live in a social housing flat and there is an abusive alcoholic living underneath me. its almost as if every tenant is different and we are not one big homogenous mass though thats obvs too much for you to process.

Jane143 · 05/11/2025 17:59

Accept it, they’re like gold dust. You can always do a swap later on

Gherkinslice · 05/11/2025 18:05

rhinnq · 04/11/2025 19:41

I got a call today from the council to advise me that I have been offered a property.

The property isn't in a very good area to be honest and the rent is on level with a private rent.

I am not sure if I should take it.

AIBU?

But have you actually bidded for this property? In our area, and any others I know of, they dont just offer one to anyone, you must put in a bid for a property

outofofficeon · 05/11/2025 18:05

Cat1504 · 04/11/2025 20:01

Here it’s around £450 a month for a 3 bed council house and you get december free …..private 3 bed is upwards of 1100 ….so it’s a no brainer

Why do you get December free??

Seymour5 · 05/11/2025 18:08

outofofficeon · 05/11/2025 18:05

Why do you get December free??

Show quote history

Some local authorities divide the annual rent by 50, so tenants get two ‘free’ weeks around Christmas. Similar scheme perhaps.

Boudy · 05/11/2025 18:10

In my area we have 4 rent free weeks a year. We pay our rent monthly so it is adjusted accordingly over 12 months . Hope your visit this eve is positive @rhinnq

GlassHalfEmpty70 · 05/11/2025 18:33

I have been in a similar situation and I was on the waiting list for a few years.
Where I live, you are allowed 3 offers before returning back to the bottom of the list, so double check with your council/HA
I was offered a flat in a high rise in a high drug use area and then a similar maisonette.
Finally, I was offered a 3 bed semi in a pretty good area 😊
Anyway, what I was going to suggest - if it hasn't been already - is to knock on a few of the neighbours doors and get a feel for who you might be living next door to and asking them if they like the area etc
It's a great ice breaker as well 😊
I just wanted to add that after a few years I started looking for an exchange. It took a long time!
But we eventually moved to a gorgeous new build overlooking fields in one of my area's much sought-after locations.
I felt like I'd won the lottery and was so grateful 🙏 My forever home.
Until the neighbour from hell arrived and moved in next door...
Things were so bad that we - decent, mature people - were forced to move out as, eventually, we used to dread coming 'home'
I doubt we'll ever return to social housing as we left of our own accord.
However, I have virtually no regrets as our mental health was much more important.
We now live in a little end terrace, next to a lovely neighbour.
I think you can be lucky/unlucky wherever you end up.
Is there a possibility you could overlap your current tenancy with the new house? So that if it was horrendous, you'd still have you original house to fall back on 🤔
Some comments on here saying that you're ungrateful/picky have no idea how life can be in the wrong area.
Follow your gut and good luck! Xx

Original poster

rhinnq · 05/11/2025 18:35

I applied last year to this HA on advice from my local council and I was invited to an Open Viewing to the same property that I have been offered.
The house ended up going to someone else and I was advised I would remain on the waiting list until a suitable property became available. This was last year in February.

I got a call out the blue yesterday and the lady said I was being offered this property asked if I was interested.

If I decline the property then I will be removed from the waiting list.

OP posts:

BooneyBeautiful · 05/11/2025 18:37

rhinnq · 04/11/2025 20:14

They don't have anymore properties unfortunately as I asked the lady, if I refuse this house then I am off the waiting list.

Then definitely take it! Social housing is like gold dust and at least you will have a secure tenancy. If you bid on it 12 months ago and didn't get it, why do you have doubts now? What's changed?

Missingpop · 05/11/2025 18:38

It’s a home stop being ungrateful accept it

Blablibladirladada · 05/11/2025 18:40

AgnesX · 04/11/2025 19:52

Have you been to see the house (do you know where it is?) Even in not great areas there are nice streets and decent people?

See if you can do that before making a decision.

That,
go and visit…if you can?

Original poster

rhinnq · 05/11/2025 18:45

@GlassHalfEmpty70 Wow, that is awful that you went through that and it is so unfair that you had to move out due to a neighbour from hell.
I have had my share of bad neighbours so I know how it can emotionally drain you.

Yes the area has a reputation as a bad area and has a "medium" crime risk higher than average.
We have just set off as the lady called me today to arrange for me to view it on Monday followed by an informal chat at the office.

I was actually thinking of perhaps overlapping the tenancies.

I will be knocking on the neighbours doors tomorrow, maybe then know why the property has such a high turnover of tenants?

Xxx

OP posts:

anon12345anon · 05/11/2025 18:51

@rhinnq TAKE IT!!
You sound like a tough cookie after a rough few years....if it doesn't work out, c'est la vie.....
You never regret what you do - only what you don't - best of luck!!

GlassHalfEmpty70 · 05/11/2025 19:09

rhinnq · 05/11/2025 18:45

@GlassHalfEmpty70 Wow, that is awful that you went through that and it is so unfair that you had to move out due to a neighbour from hell.
I have had my share of bad neighbours so I know how it can emotionally drain you.

Yes the area has a reputation as a bad area and has a "medium" crime risk higher than average.
We have just set off as the lady called me today to arrange for me to view it on Monday followed by an informal chat at the office.

I was actually thinking of perhaps overlapping the tenancies.

I will be knocking on the neighbours doors tomorrow, maybe then know why the property has such a high turnover of tenants?

Xxx

Good luck!
Let us know how it goes 🤞🤞🤞 xx

hellhavenofury35 · 05/11/2025 19:11

Now I understand why taxes are going to. Hope everyone who is in need of accommodation isn't as picky as you. If you have the money to rent privately do that and allow those in need to get the house. Only two years on the waiting list and you get offered a council house! Now the tax payer has to pay for your benefits to afford that council house...the one you don't really want!
Sort yourself out, if you can make it on your own then do so!

ItsameLuigi · 05/11/2025 19:14

PermanentDarkMode · 04/11/2025 19:55

I don't know anyone in a council property paying anywhere near the same rent as private rentals. It must be area dependent but even in my scruffy corner of the NW private rentals are far more expensive.

My house is social housing not council (so same security and more affordable, just not the council) it's 790 for a 3 bed house per month, but private for the same sized house would be around 1900-2100 per month

Efrogwraig · 05/11/2025 19:20

Take it. You'll get security of tenure. Then after a couple of years you can apply to transfer to a different area.

Thistlewoman · 05/11/2025 19:42

rhinnq · 04/11/2025 19:41

I got a call today from the council to advise me that I have been offered a property.

The property isn't in a very good area to be honest and the rent is on level with a private rent.

I am not sure if I should take it.

AIBU?

That's the thing with Council Housing, it's for people who really need it, not for those who want a subsidised rent in a 'nice' area🙄.
If you turn it down you ought to go to the bottom of the list tbh.
if you can afford a private rent in an area you approve of-then just go for it.

LLM21 · 05/11/2025 20:02

I'm not sure you should be picky if it's a council property and you are getting UC to help with rent. I would understand being fussy if you were private and paying the whole amount ...

Lavender14 · 05/11/2025 20:18

hellhavenofury35 · 05/11/2025 19:11

Now I understand why taxes are going to. Hope everyone who is in need of accommodation isn't as picky as you. If you have the money to rent privately do that and allow those in need to get the house. Only two years on the waiting list and you get offered a council house! Now the tax payer has to pay for your benefits to afford that council house...the one you don't really want!
Sort yourself out, if you can make it on your own then do so!

Here's a great example of a poster who doesn't actually know very much about the housing system but loves a good benefits bash.

Many, many social housing tenants pay their own rent either partially or fully. People who are homeless are also entitled to dignity and suitable housing so are indeed allowed to be 'picky' (if you class being worried about raising your children in a dangerous area as 'picky') - this is actually important as it is part of people not just taking tenancies on but actually sustaining them which is more cost effective in the long term for housing providers which enables the building of more social housing.

'Only' two years waiting on suitable housing - how utterly, tragically comical. 2 years in unsuitable housing, housing that's unsafe or housing you can't afford is a VERY long time.

"Now the tax payer has to pay for your benefits to afford that council house" you don't know if the op is in full or partial receipt of benefits - at that cost op will also likely need to contribute towards her own rent.

'Sort yourself out, if you can make it on your own then do so!" If op takes on a private rental she will be entitled to the exact same amount of benefits for housing costs. So this will make zero difference to the tax payer. HAs are essentially businesses. They use rent paid to purchase/ build/repair. This is not automatically taken from benefits and use of a HA property does not necessarily affect the tax payer in any way. Op will only be getting the benefits she is entitled to.

dcthatsme · 05/11/2025 20:25

If there's no chance of renting privately and you'll be taken you off the housing list if you refuse, could you try it for say a year to see what it's like to live there? If it's awful you could make plans to move elsewhere before the children are school age, I don't remember whether you said where you were living now - is it in temporary accommodation? If it is you don't have much to lose - at least you'd have somewhere to call home while you plan your next steps. Good luck!

linsey2581 · 05/11/2025 20:28

Personally I would take it. We have been waiting to be rehoused by the council for nearly 3 years as our home is no longer meeting our disabled sons needs. And our neighbour is a serious anti social nightmare. We have lived in our council house for nearly 20 years and was great when the kids were wee but we’ve outgrown it. A home is what you make it even if it’s in a bad area.

hellhavenofury35 · 05/11/2025 20:32

Lavender14 · 05/11/2025 20:18

Here's a great example of a poster who doesn't actually know very much about the housing system but loves a good benefits bash.

Many, many social housing tenants pay their own rent either partially or fully. People who are homeless are also entitled to dignity and suitable housing so are indeed allowed to be 'picky' (if you class being worried about raising your children in a dangerous area as 'picky') - this is actually important as it is part of people not just taking tenancies on but actually sustaining them which is more cost effective in the long term for housing providers which enables the building of more social housing.

'Only' two years waiting on suitable housing - how utterly, tragically comical. 2 years in unsuitable housing, housing that's unsafe or housing you can't afford is a VERY long time.

"Now the tax payer has to pay for your benefits to afford that council house" you don't know if the op is in full or partial receipt of benefits - at that cost op will also likely need to contribute towards her own rent.

'Sort yourself out, if you can make it on your own then do so!" If op takes on a private rental she will be entitled to the exact same amount of benefits for housing costs. So this will make zero difference to the tax payer. HAs are essentially businesses. They use rent paid to purchase/ build/repair. This is not automatically taken from benefits and use of a HA property does not necessarily affect the tax payer in any way. Op will only be getting the benefits she is entitled to.

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OP already said her rent will be topped up. How long do you think people save to buy their own property...definitely longer than two years.