A woman has shared how she transformed a council house that was in such a state she worried it might “unfold like a cardboard box” – with just £4,000.
Naomi Wells, 32, is the guardian of two young children, her niece, Aurora, eight, and nephew, Flynn, seven.
Prior to getting the council house, she had been homeless for two years and was grateful to get the home, even if it was in less-than-perfect condition.
But after spending so long living in a hostel and then temporary accommodation, Naomi was determined to make it a stunning family home for Aurora and Flynn to grow up in.
- Advertisement -
READ MORE: Bargain home where you can poo in pairs for sale at just £200,000
In a TikTok, racking up 222,000 views and over 5,000 likes, she shows the various issues with the property, including a “porch full of mould”, missing bathroom tiles, a “criminal” ceiling and “cracks” everywhere.
“I was so grateful when I was offered my council property – it felt like such a long time since we had anywhere to call ‘home’,” Naomi, a carer from Southampton, told Whats The Jam.
“I’d been left homeless after my old landlord sold the property.
“Before I accepted the house, I was sent a video of it, but it didn’t really show the full extent of how much of a bad condition each room was in.
- Advertisement -
“At first, I was quite overwhelmed as every room needed to be completely redecorated.”
Despite initially being overwhelmed, naomi wasn’t deterred from giving the home a DIY makeover.
She said: “I have always loved decorating and furnishing my homes.
- Advertisement -
“In the weeks leading up to moving in, I had been planning how I was going to decorate each room in my head and made lots of vision boards on my phone.
“I made a start on the rooms pretty much as soon as I moved in as they really weren’t in great condition.
“I was lucky enough to be given a decorating voucher from my Housing Team when I moved in, which meant I could purchase paint straight away – that helped with being able to get started as soon as I got the keys.
“I had also been saving up to purchase paint and decorating tools and had been buying things in the sales or when they were on offer too.
“It’s been done slowly as and when funds allowed it!
The bargain decorator “loves” high street homeware, having decorated the property with items from B&M, The Range, Home Bargains and Dunelm.
She also hired help for more specialist jobs, like replacing the kitchen, which was “old and falling apart”.
Naomi also had the floors replaced as part of the £4,000 total.
The family have been living in the home for the past year and a half and hope to finish the DIY by end of the 2024.
Naomi is hoping that by sharing her story, she can show people that those who live in council housing take as much pride in their space as anyone else.
Users have flocked to the comments, with many people shocked about the property’s original state.
“That house was in a terrible condition to be let out for rent. You really have given it a lot of love […],” one person said.
Someone else commented: “Perseverance. Stunning little home.”
“Are they allowed to give you the keys with the property being in such a state with children?! Absolutely shocking but brilliant that you’re able to fix it up,” Isha added.
Charlotte said: “There’s no way you should have been made to move into the house in that condition! It’s bringing back memories of my house when we first moved in.”
“Anyone who gets a council property me included should be really grateful which I am,” someone else commented.
She said: “People have this image that if you live in social housing you must not work or your house must be dirty and that’s just not the case.
“I don’t smoke or drink or socialise all that often and the majority of my money has gone into fixing up my home.
“My niece and nephew absolutely love having their own space after living in a hostel and then temporary housing for so long.
“For a long time all of their belongings were in storage, so they couldn’t wait to decorate their rooms with all their own things.
“I absolutely love my home now!
“It’s like a completely different house compared to when I first got the keys.”
Sharing her top tips for others, Naomi added: “Try not to get too overwhelmed! Rome wasn’t built in a day!
“Just enjoy the process and remember that when decorating it always looks worse before it gets better!
“I would always recommend investing in good tools, especially paint brushes!
“Buy cheap, buy twice.
“If you are starting from scratch and furnishing your home make sure to check your local charity shops and Facebook Marketplace as you can find some great bargains!”
COST BREAKDOWN:
Doors – £600
Flooring – £1,200
Decorating (incl paint, wallpaper and panelling) – £1,200
Furnishing – £1,000
Total: £4,000
READ MORE: Brit couple turn ‘ugliest house on the street’ into dream home
