Council Flat vewing

Starbrite

After 6 years 4 mths of waiting I've finally been offered a council flat:eek: Longest queue I've ever been in!

I'm vewing the property next week, currently the decorators are in and will be ready end of November.

What list of questions' does one ask on a vewing of a council flat? And any other bits of advice?

Many thanks
(a still in shock Starbrite)

embob74

Congratulations....firstly on getting a council place and secondly on them actually decorating it before you view.
I have never known anyone to ask questions when offered a council place - it is usually a case of take it or leave it. In Leeds if you don't accept an offered property without valid reason you can get kicked off the applicant list so if you think it isn't for you ask what will happen should you refuse.
As well as rent there will probably be a service charge to pay so you need to know that cost. Perhaps ask if there are any major works planned on the building in the future?
Also try to negotiate as late a date for the contract to start as you can. Not sure if you're in rented accommodation as you will need to give notice and it is customary for councils to start the tenancy from the time you view it which could result in you paying 2 lots of rent.
See if there are gas/ electric meters and then you can find out the provider before you move in otherwise you could end up waiting a week for the meter cards/ key to arrive before you can access amenities.

tanith

Well done on getting an offer, I guess depending on your circumstances (kids or not etc) is the area acceptable? there really isn't much you can do about neighbours/estate etc so if the area's acceptable and the flat is to your liking you either say yay or nay... only the amount of rent to ask about and when can you move in.. good luck I don't think you get much choice nowadays..

JimmyTheWig

I think the questions are what happens if you say "no". And what happens if you say "yes" and it turns out to be the wrong thing for you.
These aren't necessarily questions for you to be asking the council. Mainly depends on your circumstances, I'd say.

I would suspect that if you say "no" to this one then it might be another 6 years before you get offered another one. So from that point of view you don't want to say "no". But if by taking it you are giving up somewhere that you like and can afford then you might be happier to stay there than go somewhere that you don't like. Like I say, that's a question for your circumstances rather than a question for the council.
On the flip side, if you can't afford to live where you are currently and are about to be kicked out then it would seem pretty silly to say "no" to this one, regardless of what it is like.
Alternatively, if you are currently living with your parents then it shuold be easy enough to take this place now and then come back home if, for one reason or another, you really don't like it.

Obviously you shouldn't go ahead with anything like this without knowing the finances. E.g. what will it cost you, etc. But I would guess that it would be cheaper than renting privately so you should be fine.

If it's just a question of where is a better place to live - where you currently are or the new place - then I'd say typical questions would be...
What's the local area like?
What's it like in the evenings/night-time?
Where are the local shops?
What's it like in terms of transport (e.g. bus routes, car parking, depending on what you tend to use).
What are the neighbours like?
What are the local schools like (if that's relevant now or in the future)?
Does your favourite takeaway deliver there?
If there is a lift, how often does it break down?
Does the flat layout suit you?
What's the local pub like?
What's the local park like?

Questions for you to answer depending on circumstances...
Will it be easier / harder to get to work from there?
Will it be easier / harder to to visit friends / family from there?

Starbrite

Thanks everyone.

Area I sort of know its a mile from Parents front door where I'm currently living!
Mum keeps saying so n so lives there I'm like who!!! to received the reply of well they know you! Parents!!
Its a ground floor flat, so no lift and I think the is just one flat on top.
Mate lives a few roads along... So i'm sure she wil be round to escape her family!
Local pub has closed down, I wouldn't of drunk in there anyway think old mans pub!
It's just me so no schools etc required.
Only thing is leaving my baby on the road a night...... Will have to check out it's safe for the old Audi TT

Been told it's a sensetive let, I know the previous person was evicted for causing a nusance......

I know the rent service charge and council tax band. Rang up council to find exact amount for CT too

How do I find out elec and gas supplier? and water I will need to ask if this is in the service charge right?

JimmyTheWig

Starbrite wrote: »

Area I sort of know its a mile from Parents front door where I'm currently living!

In which case I can't see any reason not to take it, as long as you can afford it.
If it's really bad you can come back home, presumably.

embob74

I think water stopped being included in rent charges years ago so you will need to check there is no meter. The water provider is almost always the local area one (e.g. Yorkshire Water in Yorkshire).
If there are no cards or keys left for the fuel meters there is a useful bit on uswitch:
http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/
Some HA's/councils are introducing tenant liability terms into their rental agreements which means you would be responsible for the kitchen and bathroom units as well as your own belongings. If that is the case the housing officer should inform you. HTH
P.s perhaps take a measuring tape to measure windows? that's if you are allowed in for more than a quick glance!

RAS

Is there block central heating or is the heating just for the flat?

What sort of heating; do actually check that it is working?

Go upstairs and talk to the neighbour immediately above, before the viewing? As them about potential anti-social neighbours and maybe get the local gen?

hazyjo

Might help to find out what 'a nuisance' means when referring to the previous tenant. You don't want vigilantes thinking the previous tenant is still there if it was something concerning drugs or something else 'dodgy' or offensive!

Might be garages as part of it you could rent. Maybe ask about that.

You might have private outside space if it's ground floor - depends how big this block is and whether it's just general communal space/gardens or a garden attached to the flat.

Jx

Starbrite

Thanks everyone

I finally viewed the property yestarday morning, I'd love to know what happen in there before, There are dents in the walls on bit down the bottom in the hall has palster falling off as if some one had kicked the wall!! The colour scheme is to be desired, I've seen some sight on the have a look at tis thread and even I was shocked. A dark grey/brown/black in an already dark hallway and a horrible blue in the bedroom.............. So so glad its all being painted white..........

Also there was a strange smell, whole time I was thinking what is that smell, Then it dawned on me and I said out loud "Wet Dog" to which the man from the council said "Ah yes that would have been the cats" CATS!! how many did they have and what did they do to make and empty flat stink so much? (rhetorical question, I don't think I want to know!)

So industrail cleaners are going in this week builders to finsh this week, (I'd be amazed if they do). Hoping to move in next week.

Was so odd when the man from council arrived to show me around I shock his hand, he didn't know what to do, even mum said he looked shock at my shaking his hand!

Thank you all for the question and bits of advice, Even though Council man counldn't answer half of them!

hazyjo

Careful it is from previous animals - my mum has taken ages trying to identify a wet dog smell and it turns out (today) it's probably coming from under the freezer. (She has no dog/cat!) Hoping it's not a dead mouse/rat... ewww.

Hope it works out well for you.

Jx