Council flat questions.

Nick_C

Read the thread. The OP asks if the rent will change if they get a job. The paragraph is not intended to be read in isolation!

merlin68

Councils only replace kitchens when they are 12 years old and fail on 3 health and safety aspects, this is what my housing officer told me. My boiler in my old house was from the 70's and they only replace them when they can't get parts any more. providing you ask permission you will be fine to change kitchen.

Elzmumof3

i have lived in council properties for the last 11 years, in my 1st i made some changes, (wood flooring, and changed light fixtures) because i didnt put them back to the original i was charged a fortune when i moved to another property. so if you change things, be sure to keep original fixtures etc so you can put them back if you leave the property

brightonman123

internal decoration down to tenant.. kitchen revamp may need council approval.

Keeping

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. I emailed the council who are supplying me the home and she told me that I would be placed on a 1 year probationary period and after that year if I've kept up the rent etc I would be offered a secure tenancy which she said, is for life.

Maybe it has changed for some boroughs I don't know. In regards to the kitchen being changed, I'd of course ask permission from the council before doing it first but I suspect if the home is going to be mine "forever" I'd like to live in relative comfort and not have a kitchen / bathroom that looks like something out of north korea.

vintagebrighton

merlin68 wrote: »

Councils only replace kitchens when they are 12 years old and fail on 3 health and safety aspects, this is what my housing officer told me. My boiler in my old house was from the 70's and they only replace them when they can't get parts any more. providing you ask permission you will be fine to change kitchen.

It's different for every council so the OP will have to ask her landlord what their rules are. Our council will only change either the kitchen or bathroom if the kitchen is over 20 years old AND the bathroom more than 30. The tenant then decides which one to have done.

Keeping

I'm not talking about getting a free kitchen from the council... I'm talking about home improvements. If I was to install a new kitchen that I've paid for in a flat that is mine for life then why can't I?

It's not like I'm knocking down the wall or anything.

Prinzessilein

I live in Council accommodation...I have a secure tenancy (lifelong) - (moved on last July - first year was probationary tenancy)


I have a tenancy agreement booklet in which it explains what improvements I am allowed to make....major improvements such as a new kitchen are forbidden under the tenancy. ...I can redecorate as I wish, put in new carpets, add a few shelves....but I may not put in a new kitchen, nor may I put in a new shower in the bathroom, changing the boiler is also prohibited......but the Council here are quite good about keeping these in good repair.


You need to check the terms of your tenancy....under the terms of my tenancy, if I put in a new kitchen it would be seen as a breach of the tenancy and I could lose my flat! (This is sheltered housing, but my last place had similar rules)

lukieboy96

When I was in a flat, the people had a lovely kitchen they had put in, nothing wrong with it. When they moved, the housing association ripped it out and put in a cheap crappy one!! There was nothing wrong with it!! Waste of money on their part I think!

xylophone

A late and very elderly friend of the family lived in a housing association property and was permitted to change the bathroom to a shower room (at her own expense).