I’m a mum in a council house, don’t be fooled by the glam TikTok pads – we have no flooring & my oven came from charity
A MUM who has moved into a council house has shared the reality of what it is really like.
While many assume council houses are fully kitted out for new tenants, Evie, a single mum-of-two proved that wasn’t the case.
In the clip, she said: “I am gonna get so much hate on this video but it just needs to be said.
“I follow a lot of accounts on TikTok that show their council house and what they have done to it and how they have made it a beautiful home.”
But Evie revealed these people had time and money to get them looking like show homes, something she didn’t have and many others don’t.
She explained: “I was in temporary accommodation for three months and the day I saw my council house was the day I had to move in.”
The single mum explained that getting everything together has taken months.
Despite living in the house for two months already, her house was only half completed.
She revealed that most of her large appliances like her fridge were second-hand buys and her oven was donated to her by a charity.
The floors were still bare with no carpet or tiles laid down.
Evie revealed that family and friends donated scrap bits of carpet so that her kids could walk around their home.
She added: “I am so grateful to be here, but don’t think that walking into a completely done council house is the reality for a lot of people.”
The clip posted to her TikTok account @evie_brooks went viral with over 25k views.
People were quick to share their own experiences with council homes.
One person wrote: “There’s one in particular who didn’t move in for months but was apparently homeless.
“We had 24 hours to get out of our temporary, condition or repairs didn’t matter. That’s the real reality for a LOT.”
Rules on transforming your council house
According to Gov, the kind of improvements you can make to your council property depends on the type of tenancy you have.
Introductory tenants are usually limited to minor improvements like redecorating inside.
If you’re a secure tenant, you have the right to carry out improvements to your property. These include:
- installing a new bathroom or kitchen
- building an extension
- putting up a garden shed or greenhouse
- installing a new gas fire or fireplace
- cavity wall insulation
- redecorating the outside of a house
- fitting an aerial or satellite dish
You might need your council’s written permission for work you do. Contact your council if you’re not sure.
Another commented: “My home was an absolute tip when I moved in, it cost me £1,000s to do up and it’s still not finished. But thank you for sharing the reality of moving into a council house.”
“I had concrete floors for 2 years lol,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “Been in mine nearly 5 years and still haven’t finished it. Every wall in every room needed reskimmed. Like you, viewed it and was handed the keys.”
“I didn’t even see my council flat before I got the keys. I had an air mattress and that was about it,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “Hey don’t be worried it’s a house you have lots of time to make it a home.”
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