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Property/DIY

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Original poster

council offer

77 replies

northernoldie34 · 29/03/2022 14:34

need some advice, ive been offered whats known as a direct let from my local council , this is where you cant bid for a property for whatever reason so they give you a dive instead. however i went to view it and my god, it was awful. terrible chuckle brothers plaster job filling in where there once was a fireplace, no carpets bare floor with top slats missing. what looks like a dogs toilet used on the doorway between bedrooms and kitchen as its all yellow, paints coming off and there is stains on the wood floor around it. marks along every wall scuff marks, apprent damp proofing which means the house has damp issues. more dog pee stains in the main bedroom as well as what looks like a machine gun takin to the wall and then crudly filled with polyfilla. mould in smaller bedroom on the wall more dog stains and what looks like pee around the raiditor. a huge disbaled ramp and wet room which i do not need as im not disabled. even the bathroom has damp on the wall. it is disgusting and they expect a child to live there. ive complained and refused it however she has sent it management to be looked as they say theyve "seen it" and it is "suitable accomadtion" look i wouldnt let a seagull live in there. its truly filthy. im of very ill health ive just had brain surgery and im on uc, i cannot afford new carpets, the money to clean that hovel or decorate it . this is insane. am i right to refuse it?

OP posts:

Original poster

northernoldie34 · 29/03/2022 15:04

@FTB2022

I'd recommend speaking to the Housing Ombudsmen for detailed advice. There is a huge focus at the moment about decent properties and the stigma of being in social housing. You don't have to put up and shut up.

Good luck, OP.

thank you

OP posts:

Bostonbullsmumma · 29/03/2022 15:04

A friend of mine was given a council flat- the walls were full of graffiti. The council did supply the paint or a voucher for the paint. So at least she didn't have that expense. She had to buy all new carpets. She recently moved from there and had to take up all the carpet (nothing wrong with it- seemed such a waste!). I've not heard of a direct late- does this mean you will be given the security of a council place as opposed to private rent ie not having to leave at the end of a year or two? Where will you go if they can't find you anywhere else? Its a shame it was left in such a state.

Beees · 29/03/2022 15:04

I appreciate you have just had surgery and it's obviously a very tricky time for you but the security is having a council property and not having to move.

You seem very defeatist and negative about what could be a great chance at some stability. Try to look at the positive of having a house offered to you, many people could only dream of getting what you've been offered.

Margaretmatcher · 29/03/2022 15:05

OP put out a request on your local Facebook to ask if anybody can help with cleaning, or a Church group local charity. I would not turn it down because once you are a tenant you can ask the Council to fix the mould etc. As pp has said you may get kicked off the list if you refuse it.

AchillesPoirot · 29/03/2022 15:07

Can you not clean the stains? Bleach and mildew remover?

No council house will have carpet I don’t think

Original poster

northernoldie34 · 29/03/2022 15:09

@Aberration

What exactly were you expecting from a “dive” property? Something that was ready to move in without even needing a clean?Damp proofing suggests they’ve dealt with the issue. Carpets missing are standard and the rest sounds like elbow grease and paint?

right so im just suppose to accept a health hazard and be grateful? you know being on benefits isnt a choice or a lifestyle as some claim. im sick ive been sick a number of years ive had a council property before, it had concrete floors so no need for carpet and the walls were all clean painted and damage free. these places do exist but council choose to give you the biggest shithole they have on thier book because noone in there right mind would take that on the normal waiting list. dont think because im poor means i should accept the first filthy place givin to me i have a right to a clean safe place even if it just needed carpeting and decorating id be fine with but the fact its full of dog urine damp and allsorts of other stains as well as missing floorboards . being poor doesnt mean your below everyone elses standard of living.

OP posts:

Original poster

northernoldie34 · 29/03/2022 15:11

@Beees

I appreciate you have just had surgery and it's obviously a very tricky time for you but the security is having a council property and not having to move.

they can take it. perhaps someone with the money to clean , repair and carpet that place is needed. rather than someone who cant even bend down to clean, or decorate or afford any of it. this is not secuirty id rather be on my mams sofa than make my child live in that even my cat would leave me

OP posts:

AchillesPoirot · 29/03/2022 15:11

Can you take pictures and email your housing officer?

Aberration · 29/03/2022 15:12

I should add I’m sympathetic to you having to clean up dogs piss and wipe of mould and if you are to ill to do it and can’t afford outsource then there isn’t much to it. But for some people it would be two days solid cleaning for a secure home.

A bit of sanding and paint will hide the rubbish plaster. And then you can wallpaper as finances allow and you won’t even see it.

WeDontShutUpAboutBruno · 29/03/2022 15:13

Any council property you get will need cleaning, decorating, and you'll need to buy carpets and furniture.

You've been given some great advice on this thread about places to contact to help and you don't want to.

mrsm43s · 29/03/2022 15:16

Why do you think it's a health hazard?

No one died of stained floors and uneven walls!

What you are describing sounds to me like a property that needs cleaning, decorating and flooring - which you can do over time. Is aesthetics not a health risk.

The only thing that you've mentioned that would concern me would be damp, but only a problem if it's actual damp rather than just mildew that needs cleaning and decorating over. It's unlikely that this wouldn't have been picked up on the council checks though.

There's no way to possibly know that stains are dog urine, and even in the unlikely event that they are, they just need cleaning and painting or flooring over.

AchillesPoirot · 29/03/2022 15:16

If you can’t bend to clean, could you try to reframe the adaptations as being useful for you?

Original poster

northernoldie34 · 29/03/2022 15:20

@AchillesPoirot

If you can’t bend to clean, could you try to reframe the adaptations as being useful for you?

i cant bend as i have a inflammation surrounding my brain and when i bend over it causes vertigo and severe headaches not a mobilty thing no adaption could help that

OP posts:

LowlandLucky · 29/03/2022 15:21

OP check in case your L.A offer a decorating allowance, here in my area it is £70 per room or if like my Nephew who is disabled they decorated for. him. Also look at local charities, we have one here called Seascape and they have everything from sofa's to lightbulbs. Ask your L.A if they provide white goods to those on benefits.

Aberration · 29/03/2022 15:21

@northernoldie34 no I don’t think you should be grateful. I have rented privately flats with mould and once even rats so I am sympathetic. I would have preferred to have afforded the nicely decorated flats but I think all the problems sound cosmetic or easy to fix and infinitely better than an emergency hostel accommodation.

But we haven’t seen the mould. Maybe it wouldn’t go away with a clean and some heating turned on. And I can understand how that would be a dealbreaker

AchillesPoirot · 29/03/2022 15:22

But if it’s a wet room then it’s easier for you to shower? And you can walk in rather than have to step over a bath side?

I’m sorry I’m trying to be helpful

1forAll74 · 29/03/2022 15:37

I thought that most council houses had to have certain things repaired for people moving in them, as in bad damp and mold removed, and broken floorboards and toilets repaired if they don't function properly, and leaking taps etc. or broken window panes etc.

Some places I have read about, have groups, like volunteers, who will go and help out with home jobs,if a person is in need of things. for various reasons., not just elderly people, but physically not capable of doing stuff. Maybe this will involve the cleaning and scrubbing down of things too.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 29/03/2022 15:42

The real problem is that rejecting this won't ensure you get another / better offer, particularly if the issues are largely cosmetic.
What is the alternative? Will they house you somewhere better if you refuse to take up this offer?

AchillesPoirot · 29/03/2022 15:43

@DownToTheSeaAgain

The real problem is that rejecting this won't ensure you get another / better offer, particularly if the issues are largely cosmetic. What is the alternative? Will they house you somewhere better if you refuse to take up this offer?

That’s a fair point

MyDcAreMarvel · 29/03/2022 15:50

@WeDontShutUpAboutBruno All council houses here are on a meter, it's part of our tenancy agreement. that’s both illegal and unenforceable any tenant can ring up their energy supplier and get it changed.

sweepeep · 29/03/2022 15:57

So why don't you stay with your parents then @northernoldie34 it sounds like you would all be better off together as ye would be support for each other.

Danikm151 · 29/03/2022 15:57

i got my house directly from a housing association. First impressions.... complete s**t hole but cheap rent and I wasn't going to knock back a secure tenancy.
I had an 8 month old at the time so spent a few weeks crashing at my moms and going to sort the house out during the day. Cleaning, polyfilla, sanding, cleaning again.Then arrange for lino and carpet to be fitted.(bartered with the shop like mad! granted I'm still paying it off over a year later but it was worth it to get it sorted).
They gave me a voucher for decorating supplies. I have done room by room. I've had to call for certain repairs to be done(loose tap, cracks leaky boiler but they've been resolved pretty quickly)
I understand you are ill, but it's better to accept a place and fix it rather than be on a list for who knows how long. Make it an opportunity.

There are funds available for white goods and furniture.

YummyBelicious · 29/03/2022 16:15

I think it's astonishing that the majority of comments are around you putting up or shutting up. Every one should be entitled to a clean and healthy come.
Just people's others have been passed on terrible propertys doesn't mean you deserve it too, noone does.

There's not alot I can say and there seems some good suggestions above too, but I'm sad this is even a conversation we are having

All the best

Peppapigforlife · 29/03/2022 16:15

Hey OP, it really sucks, I was in the same position postpartum with a baby who was learning to crawl and I still hadn't recovered from my birth because of other reasons.
You can get a budgeting loan from UC for the carpets which are imperative. The rest, like white good, you can apply for a grant through the council for.
I would say get to citizens advice and ask to speak to their housing lawyer for advice about what would happen if you refuse it.
Which area are you in? There's a cleaning charity that helps single parents in London and Essex with chronic illness who would help you to come and clean it up if you're near there?
I had the same issues with no feeling secure with an unruly dog upstairs but I did a swap. It might not seem like it now, but there's someone out there who might want that property with its adaptations. I think you can swap after 6 months and they don't rip up the carpets of the house you swap into.
I know it's awful because you're ill and the last place you want to be is somewhere that needs work. I'd push hard to show them that your illness makes the property unsuitable. Get whoever you can on your side. If you take the property you can get the damp and stuff fixed with enough pushing to the council or whichever repairs company they use.

YummyBelicious · 29/03/2022 16:16

Typos galore. Sigh

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