Council house

[Kelsey22]

Any advice
was offered a council property on 31st July and was stated in email they do not expect it back before September due to doing remedial work I rang today as our current housing situation is getting worse and the lady on the phone was fairly rude I explained our current situation and was wondering if there was an update on the property and she said there’s no update but you was only offered it two weeks ago and can take 2-3 months I said we won’t be waiting 2 month we have been awarded the property due our current situation we can’t wait that long. Before any one comes at me i understand people waiting a lot longer than that but this is all new to me and never done this before so I am unsure of the steps I am just stressing know whether or not they can withdraw the offer because I said we can’t wait 3 months.

I doubt they will retract the offer but they also can't move you in till it's ready. It's holiday season so some staff might be on holiday also.

Gets a council house that’s currently been done up and still complaining. There is a national house shortage, unfortunately you will have a wait (or you could of course house yourself).

I understand why you might have got an abrupt answer. There are people waiting for years for council housing in desperate situations. Hanging on for a couple of months is nothing. I’m sure they won’t withdraw the offer though - just sit tight.

If you can't wait til September, then email them and tell them you don't want the property @Kelsey22 Let someone have it who will be a lot more grateful for it than you seem to be!

dont think you need to be nasty if you was in my position I think you would be the same don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t reply if you have nothing helpful to say there’s a national housing shortage whether private or council which we did try but again due to personal situations we couldn’t afford. 👍

For everyone slagging me off I was after advice not nasty comments I am extremely greatful but again it is all new to me so don’t understand how it all works I wanted advice but thanks all

What do you need advice with? The house isn't ready, you can move in once it's sorted.

When we were offered our council flat it took 5 months before we could move in as it needed a lot of work.

I'm not going to "slag you off" but you do need to remember that the council are under huge budgetary cut backs, are often short staffed with inexperienced work men/apprentices and are legally bound to provide safe housing that meets legal requirements. The house is not yours until you sign the tenancy. The house next did to me has been empty with work being done to it for 7 months. So in your shoes waiting 4-8 weeks is nothing in order to get secure housing.

Just think positive knowing that you have a house to move into

Thank you it is all new to me I have never done this before and I just want a fresh start im extremely greatful for it. I did try and help myself but finances got in the way of me helping myself. I didn’t want nasty comments but I appreciate your kind comment

Appreciate it feels like a long wait but if you can't wait that long then what's the alternative?? You either stay where you are or on the streets, the council's won't suddenly fast track you

Even people Private Renting have to wait until the property is empty and then as a minimum a thorough clean which can take a while

with inexperienced work men/apprentices and are legally bound to provide safe housing that meets legal requirements

Learnt nothing from Grenfell

I understand it's really difficult when you don't have a date to go by. Once the works are completed, it needs to be signed off by the surveyor and it can all take awhile. I don't think they would withdraw the offer just like that, don't worry

You ask people are not to be unkind to you yet today you told the council employee.

"I said we won’t be waiting 2 month we have been awarded the property due our current situation we can’t wait that long."

So you can speak to someone like this and that's acceptable. No wonder she can across rude to you.

I've never understood the system in the UK, why offer houses when they are still being renovated. In Ireland they don't give out houses until they are finished and it's usually a 3/4 week wait instead of months.

I had a 4 month wait after being offered my house. It is frustrating, but in a couple of months you'll be in a secure, safe home with a lifetime tenancy. I was heavily pregnant and in a refuge at the time, and ended up having the baby while waiting as well so I get being in a difficult position.

All you can do is make the best of things until the house is ready, short term pain for the long term gain.

They offer the property up for interest as soon as the current tennant confirms they are vacating it. Once you come first in bidding you then have first refusal for the Propery when it is ready . That way the week it's completed you can have tenants in right away. If the first person doesn't want it by then, the 2nd/3rd/4th certainly will and they have those details on a list ready to go.

@Kelsey22 what do you mean you told her you won't be waiting 2 months? Not like you can just go in and sign the tenancy. I work in housing, so understand you wanting to move, but it really isn't the person who you spoke to on the phones fault.

@JenniferBooth Grenfell had nothing to do with "inexperienced" workman- the previous poster I think was referring to the people doing the void works, which is totally unrelated to what happened at Grenfell.

@romdowa try to match people as soon as possible so they can prepare for things like school changes and moving costs. You'd be surprised the amount of people who I deal with who want to slow down the process as they don't have money for carpets, removals etc.

Councils and housing associations have time scales to relet properties- when properties are matched to new resident early, it's often because at the time of the advert and the shortlist being completed, the extent of the works wasn't known. It's only after the void works team goes in and they say XYZ needs to be done.

Can you explain why you can't wait the month or so?
If you are fleeing domestic violence can you contact women's aid for advice? Have you got friends/family you can stay with for 4 weeks? Or find an Airbnb you might be able to negotiate a deal if you take it for a month (I realise you might not have the money to do this) even a campsite(pre-arrected /Caravan site if it's just for a month and the weather is mild this time of year.

can take 2-3 months I said we won’t be waiting 2 month
What did you mean by this, exactly? Did you actually think you could browbeat the council into giving you access immediately?
That's quite flabbergasting, actually.

Ring them, find out who looks after you.
Send them an email, stating all facts of why you have been issued the house with such short notice.
Likely hood is as the house is currently empty it will be one of the last to be done due. It may be able to be 'moved up schedule' not always the availability to do so.

You'll have to wait OP. There's no point ringing and hassling them.

Whether or not it’s intentional, whether you’ve done this before or not - you’re coming across as very entitled and rude. The country is on its knees; you have been offered what thousands of people are praying for. Have a little patience and try to understand that the way you are presenting yourself is actually really unpleasant hence the comments here. Perhaps you are perfectly pleasant - it’s impossible to tell, but I suspect the lady from the council thought otherwise and you’ll probably get what you need more quickly if your tone improves a bit!