Been offered a council house advice needed

dobbie82

Maybe you could ask the community service lads to help? (I assume the council would be able to point you in their direction) Dont worry they dont send murderers and psycho's round. More like people who have done something daft and landed themselves 50 hours unpaid work helping the community)

I was a bit wary at first but they have been a great help to my inlaws who have a council house with a huge garden. (they are both disabled so cant do it themselves)

p.s congratulations I am so jealous, been waiting to be housed for over a year now! But I am glad a house has been given to somone who deserves it.

Pipkin

Tassotti wrote: »

Through my business, I deal with a lot of people like you.

You, your ex pays nothing in tax towards the state, but expect a good home. When you get one you moan...

UNBELIEVABLE.

Think you should be on the streets, if thats your attitude

Excuse me as I spit out my mothers day cup of tea all over the laptop screen, but I have to reply to this! :mad:

My husband is in the armed forces, and we hopefully will be offerred council housing soon.

I can assure you that all forces personell do pay tax, just the same as you do, as well as paying national insurance and a whopping great lot of council tax, every month, even when we do not reside in the country.

We do not expect anything, except to be treated the same as anyone else when we leave the army.. but with poorly informed *opinions* and attitudes like your own it becomes obvious as to why we are not!

OP, I wish you all the best in your new home, it might take time, but I bet you will make it fabulous.

arthur_dent_2

Hi, I wrote a really long post saying why you should take this house, but the system has gobbled it up. Printed it about 10 times then removed them all in the meantime I deleted the original post aaarrgghhh.

Ok take this house and be very happy in it, you are very fortunate to be offered one.

mazz1953

Hello,

Congratulations on getting your council house.

Don't forget that if you have access to a car, you can furnish your new home on a shoestring by buying at car-boot sales. Here is the link to a car-boot thread on these forums.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=527459

Best wishes
mazz1953

Mollymop5

Congratulations on your house.I'm in a council house and when I was offered a house I had to wait 3 weeks for it to be brought up to standard.
The garden housed 2 very unsafe sheds.The glass from the windows had been broken and I'm sure had we had the wind we have at the moment they wouldv've been down.I rang the council who said they would come and move them although they were unsure of timescale as it wasn't priority.
I ended up getting friends to dismantle them, unfortunately couldn't be saved.I then rang and said it was a hazzard now as I was worried someone would set fire to them.
A van was here within the day to move them lol.
I've always found that finding the right person at the council to speak too makes things personal and you get a pesonal response rather than the standard answer.Ask to speak to whoever is responsible and ask that they meet you at the house to discuss it.
Good luck

98sidney

Hi dont know if it is the same for your council. but i was offered a council house. And like you didnt have the keys but went and had a look, was the same as yours. Council said I could have the keys later on. Whilst I was waiting they cleared the garden, checked out house for safety. put up lining paper up in every room, and painted it all Magnollia. Maybe they are going to do the same for you and thats why you havent got your keys yet.

travelchick

Im so glad that I posted this here, Thank you for all your kind post of support and fantastic ideas, between my marriage split and the army evicting me things where starting to get me down. Then when i 1st saw the house I was heartbroken so where the children. but all your wonderful tips and advice have worked as im really getting excited about doing the house up. I have had fab ideas all day and am now thinking of this place as my perfect blank canvas. I will be taking the house whatever the council do to it, so its shabby dirty overgrown and needs sooooo much work BUT its in a perfect village in a nice area and with a hugh garden everything Ive always wanted and a fresh start.

Thank you all so much

xxxx

debby1c

You are very fortunate. After private renting for two years since my divorce from RAF prat. I was offered a top floor flat. It had no windows in the living room other than velux type my view was the wall and the second bedroom was a shoebox, no room for a teenage daughter, the neighbours were immigrants, another gripe (politics) and underneath the flats are bought privately* - and I had just moved into a private rented flat with a lease of 12 months at £560 per month. I only earn £954 per month after tax and survive on benefits. I knew I wouldn't be happy there and had to turn it down. Couldn't afford to move again and buy wardrobes and cooker and downsize again.

*Note if you had bought a luxury apartment for £139k and upstairs you had council tenants how would you feel. I felt uncomfortable.

mazz1953

debby1c wrote

the neighbours were immigrants, another gripe (politics)

What exactly do you mean by that?

siren13577

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it, I'm a council tenant and my local council are transferring all or most of social housing to a housing association, this HA has to bring all houses up the government's decent home standards by 2010. As I understand it this includes kitchens, bathrooms and walls, flooring (tiles only) in the house. There was rubbish in my garden when I moved in and council workers removed the rubbish for me, also the fencing may be repaired by the council if you need it. Grab this place with two hands, it sounds great if you can wait for the repairs. Have a look here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/SocialHousingAndCareHomes/RepairsToCouncilHomes/DG_10021332
and I think you might be able to get a crisis loan or apply to the social fund:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Caringforsomeone/DG_10018921
sometimes if the house is with a HA they offer a decorating grant.

Ask about the decent homes standards and pop down to your local jobcentre if you think you may be eligible for the grants above, good luck and I'm very pleased for you. Let us all know how you get on. Try freecycle for any things you might need, people will be very generous and may even deliver larger items for you. Congratulations!!!!