Snobby homeowners look down on me for my council house – but they paid £10k on bathroom renovations while mine was FREE
A MOTHER has revealed that ‘snobby homeowners’ judge her for living in a council house.
But Leah, a young mum from the UK, was eager to snap back at haters.
The content creator, who often shares motherhood and fashion clips online, explained that those paying a mortgage are just ‘jealous’ that they have to spend money on home renovations, when she gets hers without paying a penny.
Posting on social media, the red-haired woman uploaded a short clip showing off her bathroom transformation.
At the start of the video, viewers saw Leah’s pink council estate bathroom.
But seconds later, Leah gave a glimpse at the newly renovated room, which is now grey.
Alongside the clip, Leah penned: “When the snobby homeowner looks down their nose at you because you have a council house and they have a mortgage but have just had your bathroom renovated for free and they’ve just paid £10k for theirs.”
Not only this, but Leah, who claimed she “loves a freebie”, then added: “I’ll take it.”
The single mum-of-two acknowledged that she has worked all her life and advised homeowners judging her: “Don’t be jel.”
Leah also shared her appreciation for her new bathroom, which she described as “simple and low maintenance”.
She even expressed her intentions to buy her council property in the future, like her mother previously did, which she hopes to get with a “massive discount on top”.
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @leahb95xx, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 207,200 views.
As well as this, it’s also amassed 2,198 likes, 1,142 comments and 186 shares.
But social media users were totally divided by Leah’s video – while some were impressed with her ‘nice upgrade’, not everyone was as kind.
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.
One user beamed: “Looks amazing.”
A second wrote: “I’m a homeowner and I’m jealous. Looks lovely.”
And someone else chimed in: “That’s a nice upgrade.”
Yet their £10k one probably looks nice. This one looks basic
TikTok user
However, at the same time, one person said: “This is a very odd flex.”
Another added: “Imagine trying to brag about living in a council house. I did as a kid and I own my house now there’s only one winner!”
How can I get a council house?
To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority.
To find your local authority, simply use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Once you have access to your local council’s website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application.
After applying, you’ll most likely have to join a waiting list.
Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn’t guarantee you a council house offer.
Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently.
Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on “points” or a “banding” system.
For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:
- are homeless
- live in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition made worse by your current home
- are seeking to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on a council’s waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available.
Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority.
The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list.
There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list.
A third commented: “Yet their £10k one probably looks nice. This one looks basic.”
Whilst someone else slammed: “Basic council house bathroom. All those materials cost like maybe less than £500.”
But to this, Leah clapped back and wrote: “And your point is? I am more than happy and grateful.”
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