A MUM has revealed how she completely transformed the stairs of her council house for just £7 – and people are praising her for it looking ‘way better’.
The woman shared a video of the before and after of her staircase, which needed some TLC after she moved in.
3
3
On her @makemetoastplz account, she wrote: “We can’t afford carpet so this is a temporary solution to make our council house stairs look better.
“With three little ones I’d love to have carpets. Unfortunately I just can’t afford it right now. In the future hopefully.
“Slowly getting there.”
The mum said that thankfully her stairs were pretty smooth “apart from some staples and nails” which her partner pulled and slightly sanded.
Then it was time to give it a facelift.
She shared how she used the Johnstone’s Quick Gloss Brillian paint, which currently costs £7.69 from Amazon.
The finished result looked sleek and fresh and a lot more luxury than when she moved in.
Many people were impressed, with the video racking up nearly 300,000 views.
One person praised her hard work saying: “I think this looks great!”
Another added: “I did the exact same with but with grey gloss lol #councilestate.”
And a third commented: “I’m surprised there’s councils out there who don’t give you a house ready to move into with some decent floor.”
Meanwhile, some people suggested how she could cheaply get carpets for the stairs.
One person wrote: “B&Q sell a 14 pack of stair pads for £20.”
3
And a second shared: “Carpet Right have outlets, I was able to do my stairs and landing for under £10. RRP was over £200.”
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, including installing a new kitchen or shed.
You might need your council’s written permission for work you do.
Contact your council if you’re not sure.
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.
