Offered council house in a not very good area?

[rhinnq]

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?

So you think you can tell people what to do even though you have no idea how the system works 🤔

You dont care really though do you ?
You have secure housing you just think people who csnt affor, to buy shouldn't be afforded the same privilege
It always makes me laugh posters on,here who think private renting is preferable to social housing ,
Yes it might be in a better area ( sometimes) and the fixtures and fittings look nice
But at least Social housing is secure .

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Update:
We visited the area last night and it was quite bad.
A lot of homeless people just walking past begging for money.

OH swore he saw a rat rummaging through some of the bin bags that had been ripped/torn.
Rubbish everywhere.

I spoke to one of the neighbours and she was very forthcoming.
There are a lot of thefts and burglaries on the street and the street is full of HMO.
She also mentioned there is a lot of ASB on the road as well as the area having a massive drug problem.

She said the last tenant was lovely single mother and had issue after issue and in the end had to move back to her parents as she couldn't stand living there anymore.

The rent is quite expensive, it's an old Victorian house with no parking and is on level with the private rents around here.

My own rent at the moment is £100 cheaper.

In my area the ' bad' areas are now improving because people who would of in the past refused a house in those areas are taking them. The days of picking and choosing areas is now over.

your absolutely right to do that and I envy your housing position so much. Feeling settled and secure in housing is everything

What happens if you turn it down? The state of the country housing situation at the moment is imagine you are at risk of homelessness so do you get the option to turn it down

It really is.

I felt the same when I was in my private rental, it's such a horrible feeling but I also never begrudged anyone for staying in secure housing because like I said, why wouldn't they?

I hope you can feel settled and secure at some point xx.

Oh op I’m sorry that’s a real shame.
before you turn it down. Please read my longer post upthread. I’ve been renting for the entirety of my childrens lives. It’s got so much worse, rent increases and not being able to be part of the community. Swallowing 40% rent increases so my children can go to the same school as their siblings and friends due to catchments. Affordability checks make it all so much worse now.

im not saying take the property. Just don’t immediately turn it down without thoughts or a long term plan

Could you do as another poster suggested and go and talk to a housing officer. Explain your misgivings and say you won't feel safe and ask if you could be considered for another property. If they say no, they say no but at least you've tried.

That does sound really bad.

I feel like the cons of moving definitely outweigh the pros. I know you feel isolated where you currently are but feeling safe is important, especially with children and I wouldn't want my children around that.

Given that information it definitely doesn't sound like the kind of place you would want to be in, relax in, want to raise your children in. I think the private rental option may well be better for you. Is there any point in sharing your info/concerns with the Housing Dept at the Council so they can understand your viewpoint? Good luck OP.

Depends how much I needed somewhere to live. Living in a rough area is mentally draining.

I read your update. A victorian house?? Take. It.

The area will improve and until then, keep yourself to yourself 🙄

Not exactly. There were places in the north in the 1990s that had more social housing than they needed. Lots of demolition was going on too. As a housing worker back then, I, and colleagues, assumed the Blair government would remove it. They didn’t, and much was sold on, by the original purchasers, to private landlords.

More recently, Scotland, in 2016, and Wales in 2019, have abolished RTB, but England hasn’t? Of it’s time, it was a great opportunity for people with decent incomes on the better estates, to bag a bargain! It wasn’t particularly fair, unless someone had been fortunate enough to be in that position. Now, it’s very difficult to get any social housing without being classed as a priority, as the majority of lettings are based on need, not waiting time.

I’m torn on this. I took the first property offered to me as I was homeless, I was a young (19 year old) female and I got offered a studio flat in a ROUGH area. I took it because a home was a home in my eyes. The area had stigma as the roughest area in the entire county, the shop apparently had multiple stabbings and apparently the people were in gangs etc. fortunately that was NOT my experience. My experience there was not what the ‘reputation’ deemed it as. It had a lovely community feel with neighbours helping eachother out. I ended up in an abusive relationship and my neighbour would come to check up on me, I didn’t even know his name but he would ensure I was safe. People kept themselves to themselves and just went about their lives like in ‘posh’ areas. I’m now in a rich area and I miss the community feel from the ‘rough estate’ as they were so much nicer than the snobs that live here.

Though I would say, if kids are involved it changes everything. Especially if the schools are not great in the catchment area. Especially if it’s going to be a forever home, I do think you’re allowed to be choosy

I see you originally applied for it, and someone else got it, and that you have now been offered it as a previous applicant. Could you say your financial situation has now worsened and that you can no longer afford that rent - that should be a valid reason and one that should keep you on the register?
We were once in same position were offered one that someone turned down, and which we had previously biddef on, but when I mentioned we would need a grab rail in the shower for a physicsl disability they said permission would not be granted for a screw in one and that meant we could not take it (it was a new build, and my dd's OT said was blatantly discriminative, and a stick on one was not safe, but they wouldn't budge and immediately offered it to someone else. I've also seen seen and heard that street is full of ferals and drugs, so I'm glad now. But we DID stay on the register as council said it was HA's choice and rules (!!)and not therefore our fault)

Isn't this part of the problem. Anyone wirh drug issues or anti social behaviour should lose all rights to government subsidies.

Why can't you rent privately OP? It is do-able if you are both working. That way you can choose your area?

Do what some people do.. Sign up for the tenancy. Pretend to move in. pPay a month's rent then sublet it at 3 times the rent you paid to a load of illegals who working in mail bars vape shops and takeaways.
etc.

This sort of thing is rife near me. The Housing Associations know full well about it. But as long as they get the rent they couldn't care less.

@SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess wow does this really happen?
I thought the council's and HA had a firm stance on that kind of thing.

The area is also well known for re housing ex prisoners who have been released from the local prison into the HMO's.

I am really torn.
When I viewed the house last year I was desperate to move due to the stalking and harassment and would of pretty much taken anything.

The house I am in now is a new build (we are the 1st family to live here) has parking, is in a cul de sac with a non existent crime rate.
I can leave the house feeling safe and confident where in this area it is very shady and relatively unsafe with high level of crime and ASB.

Like I said the house inside is very beautiful.

We have attempted to rent privately but we never get chosen, we have good credit scores, always paid rent on time but I think it's because I work part time.

If we don't decide to proceed with this house I am just going to start selling things and get a loan to pay the rent upfront - which has been suggested by a few letting agents.

You are comparing your current house with a council house. The council house is unlikely to win.

I moved in to social housing several years ago. When I first saw the house, it didn’t exactly bowl me over. I’d asked around and was told it wasn’t a great area. The person showing me the flat was actually surprised I agreed as so many people had said no to it.

I didn’t have much choice but moved in. I had a toddler and a dog and been turned down for other private places.

I’ve been here several years and it’s nothing like people told me it is. I have lovely neighbours . It’s pretty quiet most of the time. You get a bit of rubbish about on bin days but that’s it.

As someone who had to move around a lot as a kid due to private rentals , this is the first time I actually felt safe and could put down roots. I’ve decorated the house, got another dog and go to bed knowing I won’t be asked to move in six months.

Id take the house. Nothing is forever . Keep yourself to yourself . Make it a home. This will always be far better than having to do a last minute eviction and put in temporary housing.

If this is your one shot. I’d move in and really try.
Whats the worst that happens? You end up back in private rental?

I believe the new renters bill may prevent you paying up front. It’s also risky if the landlords unscrupulous

@rhinnq We've been privately renting for over a decade in a very well sought after village and have had no problems being accepted - I work pt, husband works ft so a similar situation to yourself? Three kids (two shared care with ex-h) and one cat. May I ask roughly how much your income is pm and how much rentals in your area are because if you can cover it on your wages you should be fine.