Bessie J
How are you managing housing costs?I stay in a council flat with my daughter.
We moved in a year ago after struggling with high private rent for 10 years.
The garden is shared with other flat owners. They are particular about keeping it neat and tidy to an almost obsession. But won't share garden tools. I bought a hoe to loosen the earth to remove the weeds and weed killer for the weeds between the paving slabs which are constant repeated jobs. Everyone except me in the block has a shed. It would be £250 + manual costs to have it put up and levelled which is not a priority. I bought a garden storage box which cost £40 to store the tools but it has no lock on it and is plastic. I had to weigh it down with a boulder I found on the beach for strong winds, which happen regularly in the North of Scotland.
Fortunately a neighbour cuts the grass as it would cost me a lot to not only purchase a mower but also it would use electricity.
Last winter my water pipe burst in the kitchen. The council did necessary repairs but it's a mess. They painted over the wet walls which ran and there's big streaks of water marks. The cost of kitchen paint is £25 for 2.5 litres. As I am disabled and no family support it would cost £50 per hour to hire a handyman to do the job.
There were no floor coverings in the flat when we moved in. I had to purchase carpets and vinyl flooring 1 room at a time. In total it cost me £2000. No built-in wardrobes meant buying 2 flat pack wardrobes at £99 each. A handyman charged £70 each to build them.
In private rent homes. White goods are included. A new washing machine cost me £210 in the sale + £70 delivery + £70 installation.
A basic fridge freezer cost £240.
Had to purchase curtains / blinds for each window as flat is on the ground floor. Roller blinds worked out cheaper than curtains and curtain poles. A cheap roller blind costing £10 cost £50 each to be fitted by a handyman. There are 6 windows in the flat.
Paying a handyman to put together 2 bed frames cost me £200.
The flat had a damp problem which has been treated however emulsion paint to redecorate each room is £12 for 2.5 litre tin.
Wallpaper would be lovely but more expensive + paying someone to do the decorating more than doubles the cost.