Will I be mad to swap my Victorian house for this flat?

[nothappywithhome]

Hi, I am an owner of 2 bed Victorian house in not-so posh part of London (wouldn't think of living here long-term). I bought the house quite recently, had to invest more than I planned to fix basic things, and would have to spend much more to make it nice. However, I never loved the house as such, although it ticked all boxes.. as painful as it is we have decided to sell, we were thinking to sell some time anyway, but decided sooner than later.

Obviously we will need to buy something. I am not very fussy about "character" of a property. The most important things are location, good primary schools and good space. And low maintenance! Garden would be nice, but it comes at much higher price. I found this on Rightmove, which does not look very attractive outside, but is nice inside. Would it be a mad choice given that most people like old houses, and I would be exchanging a house to a flat? I could afford little more expensive, but it would just buy another flat with a little better looking exterior, and I am not sure if it is worth it.

Opinions needed!

[Vine]

I think you would be mad selling unless you really needed to. I have lived in a flat and say never again. Hassle with the management company, hassle with the neighbours. Your current house sounds lovely.

[HerHonesty]

mad.

[nothappywithhome]

But I don't like my house, I practically hate it :( and I cannot afford to change it to be more likeable... maybe I should just look for a better flat then...

[ivykaty44]

I like the flat - what are the shools and neighbours like?

[thisisyesterday]

well.... i think it's a really ugly little flat tbh!
so yes personally i reckon you're mad!

BUT, i don't have to live there. you do. and if you like it, and you hate your house then do it.

[lalalonglegs]

In principle, I'm on your side nothappy, but I don't think that flat is the answer to your problems - it looks quite poky and I'd be worried about the noise issues of living in a biggish block. Keep looking.

[wasabipeanut]

You're mad. My friend swapped a house for a flat after an injury and spent the next 2 years trying to sell it to get a house again.

[ivykaty44]

this flat

these schools the top one is the closest but you need to check catchments, it has alway had a good reputation I think

[Pannacotta]

I dont think that flat is a good option, it looks a bit dark and gloomy and in a large block which could be noisy, also no garden.

What is it you dont like about your house nothappy? Can you change things superficially so you feel better about it?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Why do you hate your house so much?


Personally I really wouldn't do without a garden. Not with kids.

[nothappywithhome]

My current house feels old and damp. The interior is OK-ish but there is always one or another problem to be resolved. For example, our bathroom has been leaking for a year, fixed a dozen of times, didn't work, I had it refitted a week ago and it started leaking again! Obviously I will call in the builders to fix the problem, but we are staying without bath (again) for a weekend, and I am fed up! Then I was planning to repair our old leaking conservatory, but noticed damp patches in one of rooms, have to spend money on that. When I finish with probably something else will come up - it always does! It is just too much. Also slugs coming to the house at night, weird neighbours, the garden where all my veggies got eaten by slugs.. Although I can afford the mortgage but the expenses seem never end, and I see no end of saving and fixing, while I want to spend more quality time with family. I think I am just a modern-house type of person. Cannot afford a modern house though, hence decided to go for a flat. Afraid to buy anything that is dated, though...

[nothappywithhome]

Oh and when I bought this house, I was thinking it is Victorian, people like it for a reason, but I have grown to hate it...

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

I hear ya.

And yy, I hated the slugs too when I lived in an old house. I don't think Victorian house equals slugs, and they're not always damp.

For me the main problem is the lack of the garden. Does that really not bother you?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

That should be they don't Always equal slug. But it is a risk, I guess.

[kayah]

you are going to have 2 very good primary schools nearby - both in catchment area
Stanley Park Junior School and Barrow Hedges

How about this flat
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30994913.html

at least you will get 3 bedrooms and soem garden :)

search withing postcodes SM
Wallington, Carshalton and Sutton have very good primary schools

this is in a nice location
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31354988.html

this is good location too
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28194430.html

or even this
think it may be on a busy road, but looks nice

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-16852407.html?premiumA=true

good luck :)

[Quattrocento]

You are utterly bonkers

That flat is horrible

[UnrequitedSkink]

I'm trying really hard not to be a snob, but I would go visit that flat and see what your neighbours are like... are they the kind of people you'd be willing to have round your children?

Also, your Victorian house sounds like it has the potential to be worth quite a lot more if you can fix the problems and do it up a bit. That flat will have a fixed ceiling price. And be more difficult to shift.

[tittybangbang]

here

Check this flat out. It's in the most gorgeous little block - very small and with a pretty shared gated garden overlooked by all the flats where the kids can play. The maisonettes have their own private back gardens too. The nearest primary is the one my kids go to - Whitehorse Manor. Fantastic school, outstanding OFSTED report. 5 minutes walk from the station, from Sainsbury's and from Tescos.

It's on the corner of my road and we're lovely people here, though the areas a bit rough round the edges...

[Pannacotta]

Cnat you sort the damp out? I have lived in many VIctorian houses and have never had slugs.

Are there problems with the gutters or down pipes? Have you had these things checked?

I agree with Unrequited that your house is likely to have better value long term and with a flat there is always the issue of neighbours and people either living above or below you.

[linspins]

If you don't like your house that much, do sell it, but don't get a flat. Can't you get a more modern house? if you're not bothered about looks you might be able to get an ugly house that's nice inside?

[Heartsease]

I do think you're a bit mad, since you put it in those terms. A garden is such a great thing even if you don't get pleasure out of it as such somewhere to hose things down, fix things, dry your laundry. That's what I missed when I lived in flats. Don't forget that you can get lumbered with some surprise maintenance payments in flats too. The modern house seems like a good idea not everyone has to love Victorian houses (my DP is resolutely against, and we just bought a 1930s place).

[Frrrrightattendant]

Sorry, but that flat really is dreadful.

You do get slugs and damp in modern-ish places too.

I would sort out where you are now, make a profit - people are queueing up for victorian houses in London.

You will have a lot of problems shifting that flat if you make it your problem! But I do get what you mean about hating a place.

Keep looking, find something you love.

[exexpat]

With the flat, you'd need to check very carefully about the management and maintenance arrangements - it looks likely to be an ex-council one, and I have heard some horror stories about people being hit with huge (six-figure) bills when most of the other flats in the block are still council-owned and the council decides the whole building needs an upgrade.

Service charges, maintenance and management can be a big issue with any flat, whether the block is all privately owned or not - I had to pull out of two lovely flats in London after paying for surveys etc because the management was in a mess.

[exexpat]

Warning about possibility of huge charges on ex-council flats here.

[Laquitar]

I was just going to post exactly what exexpat wrote!
It happened to my friend too. This block looks like is going to need a huge refubrishment soon and you will be given a huge bill. Also it will be very hard to sell it. Don't do it.

I like flats. But not this one.