Council Housing - what is it like?

[SkeletonTrees]

Sorry not really relationships- is there anyone on here that is living in a council house or has been recently offered one? What are they like? What was it like when you moved in?

Told today that I have 200 points and I’m high priority for 3 areas and top ten for all other areas in my city. One area is extremely rural but the others are more central.

I was informed that even if it doesn’t seem very nice I could always do a house swap? Worried now about what I will be offered and that it’ll be in a bad state?

Thanks!

What do you mean by nice? You can make it look nice. If it's empty it'll be empty rooms that you'll have to furnish from the ground up.

They're not going to give you something that needs repairs. They'll make you wait until they're done and yes you'll be able to exchange after a year or whatever

It will be a house.
It will have a kitchen and a bathroom.
It will have rooms.
What exactly are you asking? Council houses are just....houses 🤔

Rare as hens’ teeth. You’re incredibly fortunate if you get one.

My husband and I spent our formative years in council houses (as did most people back in the day). They were excellent. Then Thatcher fucked it all up.

It won’t be in a bad state but you will have to furnish it and make it nice

it might not be in a great area (I used to live in council accommodation as a youngster)

I've got a bungalow, absolutely love it, warm, cosy, easy to manage. Reasonable sized garden too. It was a bare space, it's taken time to make it 'ours' but one room at a time. We were emergency rehoused/ downsized from larger house and the council were brilliant. A very positive experience.

Are you not English ? They are just houses? Often new tbh and you will need to learn to paint and decorate like anyone who was starting out or buying their first house !

I believe you can get a grant to pay for decorating materials so get planning ..

As above you are very lucky , they don't have much stock left and most people I know have to private rent and get the housing benefit towards it !

I’ve had three, one being a brand new build. It’s impossible to compare.

Are you on Facebook? If so join some council house swapping groups, you'll get an idea of what kind of thing you get.

My friend is in 4 bed new build, absolutely lovely house. On new estate, very desirable. Another friend in 2 bed flat, 1940s block, but in London so also very desirable. Doesn't look much from the outside but it's spacious, warm and safe despite being on an estate that people think of as less than desirable.

You're very lucky. Grab it with both hands.

Council houses are like gold dust and you're thinking of turning one down? If you are, then you can't be in a situation for one.

It will be a house.

Where did I say I was thinking about turning it down?

I will, thanks!

That’s really good to hear. Glad you had a very positive experience 😊

They are cheap and secure tenancies.

Thanks everyone, I guess I was just concerned after the ladies comment today about if it “wasn’t nice” I could swap. I was then concerned that the house would be in disrepair but I’m reassured now after reading your replies. Happy to provide furniture and flooring, I was worried then that it would need extensive work which I wouldn’t be able to afford.

Most council housing in my area (east midlands) is unfurnished. No carpets or white goods (, fridge/cooker etc). When I moved in first two weeks were rent free so we could get some carpets down. Been here 11 years now. Most repairs are done pretty promptly

I lived in temporary accomodation for 2 years was bid on house on band A

They don’t do that anymore. You have to pay from the day the agreement starts.

When I moved from one to another I had Friday to Monday to move or I would be paying both rents 🙈

I live in a council flat, it's a 60s inner city estate.
It's great. Big rooms, lovely and light, warm, I've made it cosy and decorated it as best I can. I rent the carpet and white goods from the council. (Very basic and there's no choice but perfectly acceptable.)

I love it here. No intention of moving anytime soon.

Mine was an absolute dive, they did the bare minimum of repairs and then almost let me move in despite the boiler being broken and leaking monoxide.

We have sorted it out and it's a beautiful house, cost me about £7000 in total though 🥲

As previously mentioned it won't need any repairs and will be structurally sound. But they don't usually have any carpets on flooring left down like a private rental, so you need to factor in that cost. You are also left with the decoration of the previous tenants- in my case lots of wood chip! Also my council doesn't organise or provide any end of tenancy cleaning unless the property has been left in a very poor condition , so if they moved out and left it dirty, you will probably move in that way. Usually nothing a bit of elbow grease can't fix.