Well i label all concil areas scummy but no its not that bad, i was brought up in a "middle class" council area, and thats the kind i'll be looking at. Not the proper shitholes.

My old man rented his 2nd house out to the council, and got about £100 p/m below the private leasing average. But they sort all payments, evict the people they put in every 6 months (to prevent them claiming squatter rights) and when the agreement ends they redecorate for you.

But if i rent privately/through an agent, yeah your right, depends on the contract i guess.