new council tenants, need help to get funding for new carpets, furnishings etc

easilydistracted

Its pretty standard for a council not to consider carpets a necessity. You could see if your health visitor knows of any local charities to apply to for carpeting etc, very unlikely to result in £600 though. I've often seen packs of four self adhesive vinyl tiles in the pound shops and have seen them in place a few times. They are very easy to lay and you should be able to do the rooms very cheaply using those and then save up for some off cuts of vinyl or carpets.

KimYeovil

jamespir wrote: »

try some places like bright house you can pay weekley for the stuff and theres no credit checks

You do come up with some idiotic !!!!!* at times but that one's a new low.

* Yes, yes, I know. 'Look who is typing.'

katiesmummy

easilydistracted wrote: »

Its pretty standard for a council not to consider carpets a necessity. You could see if your health visitor knows of any local charities to apply to for carpeting etc, very unlikely to result in £600 though. I've often seen packs of four self adhesive vinyl tiles in the pound shops and have seen them in place a few times. They are very easy to lay and you should be able to do the rooms very cheaply using those and then save up for some off cuts of vinyl or carpets.

I've also seen the 'planks' in Wilkinsons- unsure if they sell these in the pound shop?

clb776

The reason there are no carpets in council properties EVER is because the council rips them up when the old tenants move out and new ones move in to avoid disease...lice...bugs etc, some people are VERY dirty!!

You may be able to apply for a community care grant to help with some of the costs of carpets, paint etc. Info can be found on the direct gov website. Freecycle is great most of the time and ask around for old furniture.

Good luck and I hope you are happy in your new home!

KimYeovil

For goodness sake!

Don't buy trashy stick on tiles or laminate.

The OP would certainly not qualify for a Community Care Grant - what possible grounds are there? Don't be silly. And if they do then the scheme is totally corrupt.

Most people have to save up tens of thousands of pounds whilst waiting to buy a home. The OP has only had to save a few hundred for a deposit (if they even had to do that - not all social landlords ask for one). They have had plenty of time (and spare income) to save up for furniture if that is their priority - or they could have chosen to wait for a furnished council let.

OP, your outgoings on rent are going to be so much smaller than those in the private sector or those who have bought - why not just do what everybody else has to do? Make do and scrape around.

hermum

katiesmummy, your credit union may also have details of bartering schemes in your area, ideal for if you need a few odd jobs done that can end up costing a fortune. I'm glad that you seem to be getting back on your feet.
I see that the OP hasn't come back since last night, maybe he didn't like the responses he got.
I'm 49 & until 2 years ago have worked since I was about 14, I've had one lot of new carpets, left at a previous house. I had painted concrete floors for a long time, as it was a case of pay the mortgage or buy carpet. I do like a new bed unless I know who it's come from, so have had a couple of new beds.
I don't want to come across as in my day, etc. But part of the fun of setting up home is making do & replacing things that you have to live with for the things that you like.
Luckily I don't like new furniture & wouldn't give you tuppence halfpenny for a lump of mdf. Over the years I've got really nice pieces of furniture, solid wood, junk pieces to do up. Recently an art deco dressing table for 10pence on ebay.
OP if you can't get free carpet, go to one of the diy sheds & get one of the large fabric dust sheets, heavy duty & a few quid. Then if your children really need to have their knees cushioned, throw it down on the floor for them to play on. You could even get fabric paints & paint roads etc on for playing with cars, hopscotch, all sorts, the kids will love it. They also make good curtains.
I'm sure that you realise that we all think that you're being totally unrealistic in your expectations, you've got a really cheap property, pay the rent, be a good neighbour & you will probably never have to move again unless you choose to.
If you're going to wait until you can save £600 do the decent thing & turn it down so that someone else on the list who will be over the moon to have affordable housing can take it. As the chances are it will take you years to save the cash, by that time you'll have found something else that you can't live without.
Good luck & if you move in, enjoy it.

Dontknowanymore

katiesmummy wrote: »

Oh they are big bullies- when I went into refuge I called them and explained the situation. I asked if I could give the tv back as I really couldn't afford to pay any longer- they wanted the address of the refuge (which I couldn't give, only the PO box), accused me of lying to try and get out of the contract, then said if I wanted to give it back to them I would have to pay to get out of the contract (can't recall the exact details of why but it was something to do with being less than halfway through the contract).

First thing I did after I got off the phone to them was get my friend to go to my flat and collect the telly to put in his house for safekeeping as I would have still been liable to pay even if the ex had smashed it to smithereens :eek:

Moral of the story? Never ever ever go to Bright House as I am still paying them over £65 a month now (almost finished!) and am stuck with a huge monstrosity of an lcd tv that I didn't want in the first place!

Maybe the moral should actually be not to let partners persuade you to get credit agreements for things they want!

God it's like reading my story except my ex broke into my house and nicked mines can you not sell yous?

andyandflo

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

God it's like reading my story except my ex broke into my house and nicked mines can you not sell yous?

Gosh that posting brought back memories. My wife and I helped our son and his partner out by furnishing a 2 bed property. Carpets, furniture cooker etc etc etc. It was the least we could have done for a couple starting out (we didn't wish them to be like we were when we started off - no carpets, 1 chair & a 2 ring cooker).

Anyhow, about 6 months later, we had a phone call from him after he arrived home from work, the house had been emptied - yes stripped bare!! A note from his partner saying sorry, met someone else, needed the furniture - moved to Brighton (340 miles away).

Never again!!!!

katiesmummy

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

God it's like reading my story except my ex broke into my house and nicked mines can you not sell yous?

Not until I've finished paying or they could do me for theft! Unlikely they would ever find out if I did sell it but sods law they would want to come and do an inspection the day after I sell the bloomin thing lol.

How are you doing btw?

katiesmummy

hermum wrote: »

katiesmummy, your credit union may also have details of bartering schemes in your area, ideal for if you need a few odd jobs done that can end up costing a fortune. I'm glad that you seem to be getting back on your feet.
I see that the OP hasn't come back since last night, maybe he didn't like the responses he got.
I'm 49 & until 2 years ago have worked since I was about 14, I've had one lot of new carpets, left at a previous house. I had painted concrete floors for a long time, as it was a case of pay the mortgage or buy carpet. I do like a new bed unless I know who it's come from, so have had a couple of new beds.
I don't want to come across as in my day, etc. But part of the fun of setting up home is making do & replacing things that you have to live with for the things that you like.
Luckily I don't like new furniture & wouldn't give you tuppence halfpenny for a lump of mdf. Over the years I've got really nice pieces of furniture, solid wood, junk pieces to do up. Recently an art deco dressing table for 10pence on ebay.
OP if you can't get free carpet, go to one of the diy sheds & get one of the large fabric dust sheets, heavy duty & a few quid. Then if your children really need to have their knees cushioned, throw it down on the floor for them to play on. You could even get fabric paints & paint roads etc on for playing with cars, hopscotch, all sorts, the kids will love it. They also make good curtains.
I'm sure that you realise that we all think that you're being totally unrealistic in your expectations, you've got a really cheap property, pay the rent, be a good neighbour & you will probably never have to move again unless you choose to.
If you're going to wait until you can save £600 do the decent thing & turn it down so that someone else on the list who will be over the moon to have affordable housing can take it. As the chances are it will take you years to save the cash, by that time you'll have found something else that you can't live without.
Good luck & if you move in, enjoy it.

Thanks for that- I will definitely ask- there are lots of bits that need doing in the house that are 'man' type jobs and I haven't a clue where to start!