Council house

Pipkin

We are due to move into council housing at the end of the year for the first time ever.

We have always lived as tenants where we could only do certain things to the house, eg paint, but could not do others eg: change carpets, kitchen etc.. and everything always has to be returned to how it was before we move out.

Is it the same with a council house?

I know they do not come with flooring, but if I decorate do I have to return it to a set way if we move?

And how about if I inherit a really dodgy kitchen? am I allowed to fit new units/worktop etc?

Thank you very much for your help!

Pipkin

I'd be reallygreatful for a reply from anyone

Thank you

Nile

Hello pipkin

Have you tried contacting your council to ask them what you are allowed (or not allowed) to do in your council home?

Regards

Nile

vivatifosi

Hi Pipkin,

Not an expert on this, but saw you didn't have an answer yet so thought I'd have a go. My MIL lives in a council house. She is allowed to change the paint, carpets, etc. However, if there is anything she wants to do that would affect the structure of the house or amend its fixtures (eg make an arch between the living room and dining room or change kitchen or bathroom units) then she has to ask the council which has to agree in writing and may place conditions on how the work is done and by whom. If there are any big items that need doing (eg a couple of years ago she had double glazing installed), then the council may also do these and then increase the cost of the rent to reflect the increased value of the property.

That's only for where I live, so I would contact the council directly and ask them. They ought to have notes for tenants on what they are and aren't allowed to do.

Sorry, Nile's reply hadn't gone up at the time I started posting!

ormus

basically you are not supposed to do anything major. ie new kitchen or windows. certainly not knocking walls down.
if practice though, councils havent a clue what the property was like when it was handed over say 10/20 yrs ago. so that leaves you with a lot of leeway.

re a new kitchen.
my MIL has just had a new kitchen fitted, after telling the council that some unit hinges were broken.
the man came round and said, "oh sod this lets have a new kitchen in here!"
so its worth while checking out the council first.

Pipkin

Thank you all very much for your kind replies.

Nile, I don't know which specific council I will be with yet (the area has at least 3 seperate subdivisions) just that hopefully one of them will give us a house/flat, but when I do I will ask them.

To every one else, I would not totally refit a kitchen, I just hoped that if the cupboard doors or worktop were bad maybe I could replace them with something better, as I know how horrid it is to live with something you hate.

Thank you all very much, I do appreciate you taking the time to talk to me!

Gambler

My sister lives in a council house and has re-decorated, new carpets, new internal doors, new kitchen, garden etc.

Looks a totally different place.

newlywed

My parents live in a council house and were told they can pay and replace the kitchen/bathroom themselves if they like but anything like that has to be left when they go - so they can't take it with them and in the long run if they leave the council benefit from the "free work".

Their kitchen is very ancient cupboards and formica type worktop - must be 20+ years old - but the Council don't feel it needs updating :rolleyes:

We live in Housing Association and we can change the kitchen and bathroom but if you do it without prior consent they can ask you to pay for any costs to make it right at the end of the tenancy - presumably if you do a rubbish job and they need to fix it - and if you get prior consent then leave the property they will give you a rebate for the improvements you have made.

nottslass_2

Hi,I asked permission to fit a new kitchen,new gas fire ,internal doors ,laminate and tiled floors etc .It was granted no problem, and as an added bonus if I decide to use my right to buy, the improvements that I've made are not taken into concideration when they value the property.

Errata

There may be some info on what improvements/changes tenants can make on the housing bit of the councils website.
In my area the council - now housing association - will give permission for practically anything, short of demoltion, providing it is done to an acceptable standard (the work is inspected when complete and passed or not).
For instance new kitchen/bathroom/windows/patio doors/central heating upgrade/extra electric sockets/garage/shed/conservatory/fencing/driveway in front garden - the list is endless. What councils don't like is artex on walls, asbestos, and bodged work. Having said that, some tenants painting and wallpapering skills leave much to be desired!
In my area tenants also need permission to erect a TV aerial/Sky dish.
HTH - enjoy your new home.

sarebear_2

hi, we are in the process of redecorating our council house, we have a new fire place fitted ourselves. all we had to do was get in touch with them and they said it was fine. also if the kitchen is bad in your new place don't worry as they will probably change it for you if you mention it before you move in. they did it with ours and then fitted a new bathroom 2 years later.
i phoned them to complain we didn't have enough plug sockets and they came out and rewired the whole house for us ! they even put in some wall lights i bought !