HOUSE ABOUT IT
Trolls slam me for my glam council house saying others deserve it more – it may look posh but it cost me next to nothing
Scroll down for Celene's five tips to elevate a home on a budget, as well as expert interior design advice
A WOMAN has clapped back at trolls who slammed her for her super-glam council house.
25-year-old Celene Francis, a single mother who lives in a two-bedroom house in Rotherham with her young daughter, has given her council property a mega makeover, all whilst on a budget.
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But social media users were left open-mouthed by her stunning home - and many questioned how she afforded to give her home its glow up.
With not much money to spare, the student midwife and mental health support worker has shared how she gave her home a stylish transformation on the cheap.
Posting online, Celene shared pictures of her home before she got to work, as well as snaps of her DIY jobs, as she penned: “Some of my favourite before and afters of my council house.”
The savvy mum explained that she nabbed items from Ikea, including her mirrors, and colour matched paint to cut costs.
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For the panelling in her living room, she explained: “Elephant's Breath by Farrow & Ball but I had it colour matched so I didn’t pay F&B prices.”
Celene previously told Fabulous that she regularly shops in high-street chains such as B&M, The Range and Home Bargains and by watching YouTube videos, has been able to give her home a stunning upgrade without breaking the bank.
She explained: “I’ve done all sorts of DIY. I painted the kitchen cupboards, got new handles, and painted the tiles.
“Obviously I put down flooring and just got laminate and carpets. On the stairs I did a stair runner and just used what was leftover from my carpet.
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“I did all of the DIY myself - including fitting the stair rods and all of the painting.
“I watched a lot of YouTube videos but I’ve always been into DIY and interiors and doing things myself.”
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Celene revealed that as a single mother, she tried to cut costs where possible, and so bought a lot of her home furnishings from cheap high-street chains.
She added: “I like to be on a budget and especially in this day and age, I haven’t got loads of spare money.
“I’ve done everything gradually and I don’t really go out or drink [alcohol] so any spare money I have, I buy things for the house.
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“I mainly shop at The Range, B&M, Home Bargains and IKEA. But my favourite shop is B&M. I absolutely love B&M. As soon as something is trendy, B&M have it straight away.
“I love their garden stuff, their kitchen stuff, love it. I think B&M is great.”
How can I get a council house?
To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority.
To find your local authority, simply use the Government's council locator tool on its website.
Once you have access to your local council's website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application.
After applying, you'll most likely have to join a waiting list.
Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn't guarantee you a council house offer.
Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible to if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently.
Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on "points" or a "banding" system.
For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:
- are homeless
- live in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition made worse by your current home
- are seeking to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on a council's waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available.
Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority.
The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list.
There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list.
BIG DIVIDE
Celene’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 485,500 views.
But social media users were left totally divided by Celene’s clip - whilst some thought her home was ‘beautiful’, others questioned how she afforded to renovate the home.
Beautiful, what a transformation
TikTok user
One user beamed: “You’ve made it look so classy, I love it!”
A second chimed in: “This is amazing and looks beautiful. You should be extremely proud of what you have achieved.”
How to do your council house up on the cheap
- Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations.
- Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals.
- For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs.
- A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new.
- Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards
Whilst someone else penned: “Beautiful, what a transformation.”
However, at the same time, one person said: “I always wonder how someone that has to get a house on the council can afford all of the renovations.”
Allow the less fortunate to be able to get council housing!
TikTok user
Another added: “If you have money to decorate like this you have money to rent.
“Allow the less fortunate to be able to get council housing!!”
Meanwhile, someone else asked: “If you can afford all of those renovations, are you deserving of a council house or just abusing the system?”
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To this, Celene clapped back and confirmed: “My circumstances have changed massively in the last few years but it’s my home and I’m not going to just now give it up because my circumstances have changed.”
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