General Chat

You're all so kind, thankyou!! Loads to do to the house, Im hoping so much we don't get any hassle. Thankyou for all your lovely words.

Wishing you and your family a happy life in your new house. Love Mary xx

Well you have done your homework, glad all seemed good and the welcome at the school too, must make you feel a lot better about it - I wish you luck, lots of happy times and new friends, and good health in your new home. Keep us posted - you are moving at the right time, all summer for you to do the garden, and let the children play outside in the fresh air. Hope we get lots of sunshine for you. Liz

Wishing you all the luck in your new home!!!!!!!!!!! Take care & have fun Claire xxxx

GOOD LUCK rebekah, just remember if you have any probs, just let us know and i`m sure we can help ENJOY YOUR NEW HOME sharon

Good luck to you Rebekah, hope you will enjoy your new home. Rosexxx

Rebecca and family, good luck in your new home, hope you will be very happy. I am sure everything will work out, as you have followed your instincts, and also given it a lot of thought. Joy

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.

Let us know what you decide Rebekah!

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.....

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.

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..

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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?