Carpet and furniture help

Jcaans

I've been given a council flat. I was in temp accommodation before this for 2 years.

Sadly, I need to buy furniture and carpets putting in.

Currently on universal credit, PIP daily living component.

Is there anywhere I can get some help towards these things ?

poppy123456

Your local Authority will have funding from the Government for the household support fund, though it does say it's for essential cost of living things such as food, energy bills, essential items etc but you can contact them to ask. Details should be on their website.

I'm not aware of any other specific grants available for this sort of thing. I found some information here. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grants-low-income/

You can also have a look on facebook for your area or gumtree to see if anyone is selling or even giving away furniture because people often do this.

newborn

Congratulations on getting a new home. You will soon make it just as you like and it can be free, or nearly free.  There should be plenty on freecycle or similar. People do not like to waste by taking to the dump when the things are still perfectly good, sometimes nearly as good as new or at least with only a small fault,  so they like to give away free to someone else.

Even if it is not exactly right, it will do for now and can even be made right. e.g. a wrong colour carpet could be laid down first of all upside down to insulate, if you really cannot stand the pattern, then later you can put a rug over, or can use the old carpet as underlay for another  with a better colour, so you have double insulation. ( for heat transfer or for noise absorbing, thick layers of carpet are perfect)

Or if you don't like the free curtains very much, they will do for now, then when some better ones come up, the old can become linings for the newer ones, (you can just use the curtain hooks to join them, which is better in some ways than sewing, because they come apart to make washing and drying easier later on).  You don't see them, but, again, they are working as  insulation. (From hot or from cold, thick curtains are great.)

If there is a sofa of the wrong colour, you can get a blanket or bedthrow or thin rug to put over it. Dining chairs will often have seats which are easy to cover over the top, with a fabric you like.  All the very best in your new home

Stellar

ask the housing association if they have anything.

Lou67

@Jcaans
Hi as Poppy sd try your local council, I stay in Scotland and when I moved into my flat I got all my white goods, and could’ve got a lot more if I had needed. All areas could be different.

Also as you have been in temporary housing for 2 years, you can try applying for a community care grant from the DWP.
I hope this information is still correct good luck.

poppy123456

Lou67 said:

Also as you have been in temporary housing for 2 years, you can try applying for a community care grant from the DWP.
I hope this information is still correct good luck.

Community care grants from DWP were abolished in 2013 sadly. They are still available if living in Scotland.

https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/money_help/community_care_grant

Loans through DWP are now as a budgeting loan is claiming either Income Related ESA/JSA or Income Support. Or a budgeting Advance if claiming UC. These need to be repaid back and will reduce future benefits payments. How much you're entitled to will depend on each individual circumstances.

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/eligibility

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/budgeting-advance/

Steve_in_The_City

In my London borough we have a council dept (possibly only for council tenants) "Home&Communities". They arranged to supply me with a cooker and fridge/freezer but they help in other ways, too. Maybe you could ask your council if they a similar scheme where they may be able to help with your settling-in expenses and requirements. Good luck to you, and I hope you soon feel settled in your new home.