Mumsnet Talk

We're buying a flat in east london, baby due in June. Our dilemma is we like 2 places. The one we prefer has a bit more space, but a much better layout... but - no lift and up 30 stairs. The other has same number of rooms, slightly smaller but overall layout isn't as nice. It does however have a lift.
We know this is a relatively short-term thing. We probably won't be there for more than 3 years, because of jobs, so will probably rent it after that.
Both flats are bog-standard, ex-council, London stock. Both locations have something going for them, and are near to a lovely big park and cafes.

What we need to know is, how important do you think the lift is? This will be our first and we're getting different responses from people with kids already. Would we manage without the lift? Would it put people off when we come to rent the place?? Or should we just go for the space. What would you do?

Would love to hear your thoughts

If the lift stops working, how many steps? Also consider parking, how far from car with baby and 10 bags of shopping. Is there somewhere to store buggy etc. For what its worth, ex council flats are very roomy.

steps are not a big deal, you will not spend most of your day going up and down...lifts also make the service charge very expensive.

I lived in a third floor flat with two toddlers, no lift. It was fine.

I did a lot of internet food shopping though.

My Sis managed three floors with three toddlers!
Go for the home you will love living in!
Train toddler to crawl up stairs early

If the flats are on at the same price and similar in all other respects then I would expect the larger flat to be better value.

No experience of the steps issue although I wouldn't fancy it myself, but I guess if you do your major supermarket shopping online then i guess you could live with it ok.

I use a sling much more than a pram so it wouldn't bother me - I'd go with the nicer flat and put up with the stairs. If you have your heart set on a heavy fancy travel system and there is nowhere to store it downstairs it is probably more of an issue. Get shopping delivered from a company that will bring to your front door (i.e. up the stairs for you)

Until very recently I lived in a flat that had three flights of stairs (24 steps) down to the front door, and an extra two flights (16 steps) to the car park. And two DCs aged 4 years and 18 mo.

Before having DC1, I worried that it was going to be impossible, but really it was no big deal, and if you think you'll only be there for a few years then I would say go for it.

The main inconvenience for us was the distance between the flat and the car, but that would be the same whether you have a lift or not.

We also did a lot of our food shopping on the internet. And used a sling when the DCs were small. And chose a Maclaren buggy rather than a heavyweight travel system. The previous owners of our flat also had a baby there, and their solution to the pram/stairs problem was to store the pram in the boot of their car.

One other thing to consider, as you live in London, is that if you want to get around on public transport it makes life much easier if you have a lightweight pram (or sling) and can manage a flight of stairs. So the flip side of having stairs might be that it's actually easier for you to get out and about.

If you're only going to be there for three years I would go for the place with a lift. Yes you would probably manage with the stairs, but your life would be a lot easier with a lift. Slings work well for some people, but not all. I much preferred a pram.

Stairs wouldn't bother me. It's 30 steps, not 300! What if the lift breaks down? Also service charge for the lifts.. wouldn't want that! I lived in a 1st floor flat with a toddler and it was absolutely fine. Actually, in our standard terraced house we climb up and down the stairs like 100 times more
I would choose the flat which you preferred on space and layout.

A lift is not important, I live in a second floor flat and rarely use the lift, walking is just so much eaiser and less faffy.

It's only 30 steps so not too bad even with a baby.

Hello everybody, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of your comments. It's really helpful to us as we weigh up pros and cons