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?

Just wow, so entitled

Does your OH work full time and contribute to the household costs ? Why can’t he take on a private rental if you can’t pass referencing ?. You speak as if it is only your income being taken in to account.

Take it. It's a no brainer.

Taking this house will get you back to the broad area you want to live, where you will have support from friends and family and the ability to get full-time work.

If the house works out, great. If not, you will be in a position where you can be competitive for a private rental. You won't achieve that by staying where you are and you will have no prospect of a council house in the future.

I'm sorry you've experienced DV.

@rhinnq could you give it a try? You might use it as a stepping stone and be able
to find full time work and then move? And if it gives a bad experience would the council not be more
sympathetic about keeping you on the list for
an alternative?

Yes OH works full time and contributes.

When we have gone for viewings and applied for properties we always get declined and it is because I work part time and it is often hinted that landlords prefer both applicants to be in full time employment.

Other times paying 6 months upfront has been suggested but that would take us ages to save and if we could save 10 grand then we would put that towards a deposit for a house and not on renting a house.

If we moved then we would be able to save more quickly to private rent due to me being able to obtain full time work and having the help of friends and family.

How would I check for complaints against the neighbours for anti social behaviour?

Take it. And if you find it isnt suitable then move into private rented accommodation. Can't see how the rent won't be cheaper than private. Council rents are usually heavily subsidised.

'I think I will have to go and see the area again in both day and night time to get a better feel, maybe book a weekend stay close by and see how I feel.'

How long do you get given to decide ? down here it's around 24 hours. Certainly not long enough to book a weekend to visit the area.

@rhinnq Streetcheck might be a good start. Input postcode and there is also a section to check out crime stats and a nap with pins for where crimes committed( street etc)

@rhinnq We've been privately renting for a decade - husband works ft but I work 4 days a week term-time and it's never been a problem for any of our landlords. The rent is always paid on time.

Take it, keep yourself to yourself. Install CCTV. After a year or however long you can look for a mutual transfer.

Just take it and keep yourself to yourself. Trouble only follows if you let it in
Get a dog if you feel safer and cctv
You can save up and then move to somewhere else or see about a swap to another HA property
Ask on FB about the street specifically
You'd be nuts to refuse tbh

What does any of it matter? Take it and if you hate it private rent. Since the only other option is….private rent….i don’t get the conundrum

It's up to you tbh I have a housing association £850 a month with the roughest neighbours you can imagine no one will swap here because people know how bad it is

If I moved the job opportunities would be endless and I would be [able] to get full time work.

I would have more time to myself as I would have more help with the kids.

OP, these seem like really good reasons for taking the place you've been offered - even if (as pp have said) you're just using it as a "stepping stone" on your way to a better place.

Good luck!

Would a family member or friend be willing to act as a guarantor for a private rental? It's quite a big ask, though.

There are 11k on the waiting list for a council property where I am , peo. I would take it

I think it depends on how desperate you are to move. I think that price is shockingly high for a HA tenancy especially in a troubled area tbh but I guess they're competing for market value so they can be sustainable.

The alternative is to speak to a housing advice service like shelter depending on where you're based and ask for advice on what would make this offer unsuitable so you could stay on the list. But then you know you're going to have another long wait on your hands. I'd look into how long you'd need to wait to be able to transfer or do a tenancy swap and then make your decision based on that.

I also think you need to think about whether it's moving back there, or if there's a middle ground elsewhere in a different area altogether that may provide more opportunities for jobs and new friendships. And whether you've genuinely exhausted all avenues for meeting people where you are.

If it enables you to move to an area you want to be in and with better job prospects so you can earn more and move into a better place in a year or two, if it’s that terrible, it’s a no brainer really.

You’ll at least have some security of tenure while you sort things and family nearby to help out. Kids are too young to be out unsupervised so you don’t have to worry about teens getting involved with nefarious stuff on way to school etc. Just get a video doorbell, security locks on windows and doors if necessary, back gates secure and keep your head down.

You could knock on neighbouring houses doors to say you’re thinking of moving in and ask them what the areas like. I always used to do this so you could get an idea of who you’re moving next to as well if not detached. That was some years ago and was always taken well.

I would take it. Lots of good reasons, and you could move into a private rental and end up with awful neighbours. Security of tenure; near family; job opportunities just for starters. Good luck OP whatever you decide.

I’d take it, get full time work and work towards saving for a deposit to buy a house.

Take it, then you can get a job as you say the opportunity are better in the area. Then you have two people working full time and will be able to private rent.

The Op says it's the same as private rent but yeah you know better .....

And yet here I am, 26 and unable to afford to get on the property or rental ladder, with no help from my local council. This is unbelievable

What exactly is unbelievable?

That people would bite the hand that feeds them and turn down heavily subsidised housing.