General Chat

Cannot decide whether to take it, or wait poss upto 2 years for something else to come along. We want a garden for our children, and to be out of the city, nearer countryside. I've never felt very safe where we are. Yet the house we've been offered is near fields, with a garden. But 9 people have turned it down before us, as theres been anti-social behaviour there, groups of teenagers etc. When we viewed it, it wasnt too bad, if you can turn a blind eye to kids playing football in the street. We only have til Monday to decide!!

If its suitable and you liked it, take it........its possible the other people were older and didnt want kids playing in the street.To be out of a city if you dont feel safe is a real plus. Let us know. Donna x

can you go and visit it at a different time of daytothe first visit? Say later at night? might give a different impression. can you say for definate how much longer you'll have to wait if you decline this property???? We also had to make a quick descion when moving from our flat to this house. Like you at least two families had turned it down. But that basically due to the decor we think????? but also partly due to the neighbours. But given their past history and at times it's still ongoing, we've not had any problems with them. They leave us alone and we leave them alone, apart from saying hello when we pass. Must add we are now starting to think about moving/transferring as we live in a court yard, and everyone and I mean everyone knows your business, and who'es coming and going... oh to live on a normal street with a door that opens onto the street!!!!

Well only you can decide whether to take it or not. BUT, if nine others have turned it down then they must be wary of the area . can you find out more about the area from the local police. If it does have a problem then you may not want to put your family in jeopardy. Sometimes newcomers get targeted thro no fault of their own,they simply may just ask local yobs to move on or be quiet and they get targeted for all sorts of abuse and their lives made a misery. i personally would be very wary. Shirley

hi rebekah there is anti social behaviour every where now, i think you should take it for your kids sake. if we had anything outside our house we used to just go and talk to them and explain that it`s late, kids in bed etc and we had no problems, asb is different to everyone, if you do have any probs just talk to them and not down to them.. bloke over the road would get on his high horse and talk to kids like sh*t and he always got grief of them.. we wre always friendly with them and they were great.. i am using past tense as my kids are teenagers now and we don`t get any bother here now sharon

i think the word RESPECT comes into it, both ways, if you are new they will probably try it on, so just be cool and calm from the start and you will get respect from THEM.... first impressions and all that...ASB will only be a problem if YOU let it become one, for the kids sake i`m sure you can do anything!!!!!!!! but like was said earlier you don`t know the kind of people who refused this property... If you like it.....then go for it sharon

Thankyou everyone!! I suppose my tolerance level is quite low, I'll have to learn to ignore, in future. We had a large house with an aupair some time ago, but due to business ventures gone wrong we're starting again, in every way shape and form! Ah well, we live and learn! I want to just be grateful for what we've got, but its hard sometimes. Thanks all. PS: Shelli, we live in a courtyard too! With very thin walls. If we turn this one down, no we don't know how long we'd have to wait, as lists for other areas are longer, and we're not priority. Could be 12-27 months.

It won't really help I know but just to tell you my experience, I used to live in a council house ,when we moved in it was a nice area but after about 8 years living there it changed a lot and gangs of teenagers congregated in the square outside. They were not just kids being kids, cars were burned,and drug dealer drove up every evening. We finally sold it( we'd bought it 3 years before) and left the area. The thing is, if you do take it and find it really is bad (and if 9 people have turned it down it might well be) the council may not consider you for re housing in the near future? I hope it works out well for you,perhaps you could get out there tomorrow and have a look when the kids are around?

Hi Rebekah I think you should be really careful here. I have had relevant personal experience. Can you go round there or get someone else to go for you, tonight? See what the levels of teen shouting, breaking bottles, riding little mopeds etc are like on a weekend? I would be very wary with all the other people refusing it. Just my opinion, good luck either way. xx Jen

Hi, kids are in bed so am sending husband up there to do his bit. There are 4 empty houses on that street, although they havent had any damage done to them. Think the other 3 are being sold off by the housing assoc. Ive been a nervous wreck since I left my beautiful house, wish we could win the lottery lol.

Oh yes, and I meant to say you might be able to find somewhere to rent privately rather than wait on the council/housing association list for 12-27 months. It's possible you could then get housing benefit paid to the letting agents from the council; then they take you off the list I think. xx Jen

Hubby just texted from new house; he's been chatting to a teacher who lives on the street. In his opinion, its not bad, but teenagers playing football in the summer, and one has a mini motorbike he sometimes rides up and down. I can cope with that, but apparently the couple who lived in the house before us had damage done to their car. He said its quiet in the winter, but in the summer kids can be out in groups til midnight, so the area has a bad name. Next door neighbours have 2 teenage boys. The housing association encourage people to report problems, apparently, so they can deal with it. Hubby said he got stared at as he walked down street! Really annoys me when people think they own the place.

Can you be specific about the name of the town that you are moving to? presume it is fairly close to you? I think wherever you move, you are always going to hanker after what you had - but maybe you need to set your sights a bit lower and accept that something with a garden is better than what you have now. Quote:Hubby said he got stared at as he walked down street! Really annoys me when people think they own the place. Turn that round to a positive - where there is a stranger about, someone will take notice.maybe they do wonder who is looking at an empty house after dark.is that a bad thing?? Scarlett

Hi, its about a 13 min drive away from Coventry city centre going northwards.

Rebekah, does the area have a Neighbourhood watch /Homewatch scheme in action? How about ringing the local police station and asking about a Community officer, is there one for that area and are you able to speak to him? How long have you had this offer, surely they can't expect you to decide in just a couple of days. Having had problems with youngsters on the park opposite my house, and that includes drug dealing, breaking into garages, eggs thrown at house etc, it can be very scary, so if you have low tolerance levels and are used to a lot different, I think you would become very stressed by such activities. I started up a Homewatch Scheme several years ago, and it got some of the people together in the street, but since then many have moved on for various reasons, and it is all very different, many aren't interested in the scheme or being involved in watching out for each other's homes and property. I think I would ask the council for a little longer to decide, after all if they have had 9 knockbacks, a few more days won't make much odds to the rent budget. Good luck, whatever you decide. Liz

like most have said there is anti social where ever you live. WE bought this house19 years ago and the house next door was almost derelict with a really rough family living there. But as time goes on the family grew up and sold the house to a builder and that house is probably the best in the street now. Over the years there has been various gangs congregating but they grow up and hang around else where. I fyou want a garden for you childrne then its probably the right time to move. Just make sure the garden is secure for them to play. And now the house the other side is rented out and hsa had a broken window for over a year..

Thanks for your replies. There is a neighbour hood watch scheme, but the street is not covered by it, it mainly covers an area which is worse. Still haven't a clue what to do, if our present area was great we'd just stay here, garden or no garden. But our lounge window looks onto an alleyway, everyone congregates there when its raining so its a bit embarrassing if we have visitors, esp as we don't have double glazing. We also have a flat above us where the occupants feel the need to slam doors constantly. Gawd, I sound like a right moaning minnie!! Im subconsciously thinking we'll be taking the house...I just hope its not a big mistake, as the kids will have to change schools.

Rebekah I would go there once its gets dark and see if you like it then, my friend did this and during the day it was fine, but at 10 o clock at night she saw lots of youths hanging around drinking and making a nuicence of themselves and ended up not bothering to do the swap. She asked the neighbours what it was like during the summer holidays and they all said they were frightned to go out at night as there were scores of youths causing trouble in the area.....

Let us know what you decide Rebekah!

Oops sorry Purple, been busy packing all day! (guess that kind of answers the question). We went up there Sun aftternoon, met both sets of neighbours, and 2 elderly households, all of whom were LOVELY. 2 out of the 4 had bought their houses. I felt so much better about the area, we collected the keys today. Hubby and father in law stripping wallpaper now, and painting/wallpapering etc. Found out the previous occupants had moved for work reasons - he had to travel across the length of the city for work. STILL a bit nervous, as the housing officer insists its a 'hard to let' area. Went to see my childrens new school, we were made extremely welcome.