How Can I Decorate My Council House?

Most council house tenants in the UK are given strict guidelines on how they can decorate and maintain their homes. These guidelines are put in place by the council authority and are meant to ensure that homes are kept in a good condition. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to decorate your council house on a budget, including how to get permission from your council and where to find grants.

How Can I Decorate My Council House?

There are many ways to decorate your council house and that too on a budget. Listed below are some easy steps for you to follow as you plan to decorate your council house:

• Get permission from your local council authority: The first step to decorating your council house is to get permission from your local council authority. This is because you may be required to adhere to certain guidelines, such as not making any permanent changes to the property. 

• Look for grants and funding opportunities: There are a number of grant and funding opportunities available for council house tenants who want to decorate their homes. You can search for these opportunities online or speak to your local council authority to see if they have any recommendations. 

• Use your own personal belongings: One of the best ways to decorate your council house on a budget is to use your own personal belongings. This could include items like artwork, furniture or even plants. If you have any items that you no longer need or use, you could also consider selling them to raise some extra funds. 

• Be creative with your decoration: It’s important to be creative when you’re decorating your council house on a budget. This means thinking outside the box and coming up with ideas that are both unique and stylish. One way to do this is to mix and match different patterns and colours to create a cohesive look. 

• Shop around for bargains: When you’re looking for decoration items, it’s important to shop around and look for bargains. This could mean visiting second-hand stores, looking for sales or even scouring the internet for deals. 

Do I Need The Council’s Permission To Decorate My Council House?

No, in most cases you do not need permission from your local council authority to decorate your council house. However, if you intend to make any permanent changes to the structure of the property, you will need to apply for permission in writing and will not be able to proceed with making any changes unless you have approval in writing from your local council authorities.

If you have recently moved into a council house, your local council office may provide you with a voucher to purchase items for home decor. While, you may be able to use this voucher for limited items only; however, with certain items paid for, you can allocate your own finances to other areas of home furnishing.

Can I Get Help In Decorating My Council House?

Yes, you can get help through your local council office, charities and grants to decorate your council house. If you are older than 70 years of age and claiming disability benefits, you may also be able to get help from the council both in the form of materials and labour to help you decorate your council house.

Your local council office may be able to help you with furniture by giving you a voucher to purchase furniture through certain schemes or charities. Sometimes this furniture is available at an extremely low cost; while at other times, charities may pay for them while residents claim to use it. 

This means that while councils may not directly pay for the furniture that a council house resident requires, they can connect them to charities who can either offer the pay for the furniture while the resident pays them back in instalments or sometimes they may simply make the payment on behalf of the resident(s) who is not expected to make any payment at all. 

You can also get help from charities such as Buttle UK, Family Fund or Glasspool Charity Trust to decorate your council house if you meet their eligibility criteria.

Conclusion:

Decorating your council house on a budget is possible with a bit of creativity and effort. By following the tips and advice in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a stylish and unique home that you can be proud of.

References:

I’ve spent thousands decorating my council home 30 times – I’m sent hate mail by people saying ‘I’m above my station’ | The Sun

Decorating and improvements to your council home – Epping Forest District Council