NOT SO FLAT
I got moved from a tiny council flat to a beautiful house in the country after one conversation with my housing officer
There's a topic of conversation that people must have with their housing officer to find out
A MUM has shared how a single conversation with her housing officer transformed her life, helping her move from a cramped council flat to a lovely house in the countryside.
Now raising two daughters, she explained that her new two-bedroom home is a dream come true and is a far cry from the tiny, town-centre flat she once lived in.
2
The woman took to TikTok and shared a video of the area that she now lives in, while telling her followers how she managed to ‘upgrade’ her home.
She said: “So I was housed in this beautiful two-bed older property in the countryside in a very rural location and before that I was previously in a one-bedroom tiny flat in a busy town centre.
“The tiny flat was temporary accommodation, however I was told I'd be housed near this temporary accommodation so I kind of settled with the idea that I'd always be in a busier area.
“When the time came when I was able to bid on properties, I spoke to my housing officer about my housing options and she actually asked if I would consider being moved out of the area into a rural location where there is no public transport.
READ MORE ON COUNCIL HOUSES
“This was not an option for a lot of the families who were in temporary accommodation with me, purely because they had older children already settled into schools or they had jobs or work nearby, they had family nearby or they just didn't drive.
“So moving out of the area for them would be a lot more hassle, but for me personally it was perfect.”
The mum explained that if this is an option and those who are in a similar situation can move out of the area, then it is worth having a conversation with the housing officer.
She said this is because they may have properties “that are really out there in the sticks that they don't always offer to everyone, purely because they know a lot of people don't want to live there.”
Most read in Fabulous
The mum urges those who “feel like you could live” out in a rural area, to “mention it” as “you never know.”
However, she wanted to explain: “I'm no expert at all, I'm just talking from my previous experience and every council does it differently.
I’m doing up my council house but have only just discovered the £5 B&Q hack that’ll save you a tonne of cash when redecorating
“So, please don't take what I've said as a matter of fact. Where you're from might be completely different to where I'm from.”
Many people rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “This sounds like my idea of heaven.”
To which the mum replied: “Yes it's definitely not for everyone but I love it! so peaceful.”
The reality of living in a council house
LEANNE Hall, Digital Writer at Fabulous, has discussed what it was like growing up in a council house, and why those living in such properties are often judged...
When I was a child I grew up in a council house, and was blissfully unaware of the discrimination that came with that, until I became an adult.
My younger years were spent running up and down the stairs of my flat, meeting with other friends who lived there and making the most of the communal garden.
But now, it seems no matter your circumstance, everyone has something to say about why you shouldn’t be there.
Living just outside of London like I did, rent prices are still high, and as my mum was at home raising three kids at the time, it wasn’t easy to find a job that fit around that.
People in council houses are often labelled as ‘scroungers’ or ‘lazy’ but it’s nothing of the sort.
Most families in council homes experience overcrowding, and let’s not even mention the horrendous amount of damp and mould that comes from living in old social housing that hasn’t had work done to them in 50 or so years.
It’s not ideal for many, but it does provide a secure home without the fear your rent will shoot up every single year, which I would argue is vital to children growing up on the poverty line.
2
A second added: “This is the best thing that can happen to your children.
“A high number of very rural schools have TINY class sizes and typically excellent secondary schools. A dream for families.”
A third said: “What a wonderful childhood lies ahead for your children - this looks like heaven! Hope you’ll be happy here.”
What is a council house swap?
A council house swap, also known as a mutual exchange, is a scheme for people who live in a council or housing association property who would like to swap their home with another tenant.
People often swap to get a larger or smaller home or to move to a different area.
When you mutually exchange your home, you are swapping tenancies with someone else.
Anyone with a full secure or fixed-term social housing tenancy in their name with a clear rent account can do a mutual exchange.
You cannot swap your home if you:
- have an introductory tenancy
- have a probationary tenancy
- are in temporary housing
Topics