To ask is a 5bed house is a waste in these circumstances

What are the other rooms used for? Guests? Or hobbies that bring you joy?

How are you defining waste? If they can afford it and are happy how is it wasteful?

It's not you or your house, how is it affecting you?

Also, your poll is really confusing.

I live alone in a 3 bed house. Never had kids. Every room is utilised, just not as bedrooms (apart from the one I sleep in).

We have technically a 4 bed for 2 people. In reality it's 2 bedrooms, 1 office, 1 living room 🤷
I'd quite like another bedroom so we could have a hobby space and second office. If I had 50-80k spare I'd get a loft conversion.

We're soon moving from a 3 bed to a 4 bed, the new neighbours kid (her house is mirror image) came over today and was absolutely stunned we're moving from such a big house. Everything's U shaped so the house has so much light which probably makes it feel much bigger and rooms are big due to the stairs /hall set up. There is not one single cupboard in the new house except the boiler cupboard, I could sure do with a spare room or six for the hoover, school bags, my shoe/coat cupboard(that I'll miss the most) and suitcase storage

Well said! I totally agree.

I have a big detached farmhouse style place plus a courtyard of barns and dream of living in a van with almost zero stuff. I think my dreams are unusual though.

We have more bedrooms than people in the home, same setup except DC live with us permanently. One bedroom is used as an office and the other as a guest room used regularly as family and friends live out of the area.

I’m sure they have assessed the need and their finances to decide if it’s needed. The other bedrooms could be used as an office/guest room/storage/hobby room. Or they might have just liked the house enough that the amount of bedrooms was irrelevant.

And why should they?

I get totally pissed off with people who think everyone should live in a fucking shoebox. We have a 4 bed house, kids left home, semi retired.

should we move to a poxy bungalow to free up the home we’ve made over donkeys years? Piss off.

it’s none of your fucking business.

Some 5 bed houses are quite small. Newbuilds often divide tiny spaces into multiple bedrooms and bathrooms that dont add up to much in floorspace

A waste? A waste of what?

I am single no kids and own a four bed. Not a waste at all.

every bedroom is used

1. i sleep in
2. guest bedroom (used about once a month)
3. home office
4. dressing room.

i live every inch of my house and dare anyone to tell me it’s a waste

Who cares? Honestly, why are you even giving this a second thought, let alone posting a thread about it to get opinions?! If they want that house and can afford that house, then crack on. Their business, no one else’s.

A waste of what?
We have a 6 bed for our family of 5 although two of the rooms are on the third floor (loft conversion) and not used as bedrooms. One is a den for the kids (tv, Lego collection, where they hang out with friends), one is an office for wfh.
Every room is used and has a purpose, we love the space.
I will admit that we have too much stuff because we have the space for it, and also that keeping on top of the housework can be a challenge. But I don’t see it as a waste, it’s full of happy memories.

What is it a waste of?

The couple’s money? - up to them whether they can afford it.

Or

a waste of a larger house when they could live in a smaller one? - again up to them.

so overall if they both want it, then not a waste

It wouldn't be a waste for me if it was affordable. I'd easily make the use of the spare bedrooms. Home office, guest bedroom, play room, dressing room, music room, snug room, sensory room, games room. If you think the rooms will just be sat gathering dust though it may be a waste for you.

Part of the issue is that the number of bedrooms correlates to the space downstairs in most houses so if you want a decent size kitchen, utility, a couple of decent sized reception rooms to host family and friends that means having more bedrooms. But as everyone’s says I’m not sure why it’s anyone else’s business- there’s certainly worse things you could do with your money than invest it in property surely?

I have a 5 bedroom house and we have one child and a small dog. Bedroom 3 is the guest bedroom, bedroom 4 my dressing room and bedroom 5 the office. Works brilliantly. 5 bedrooms also equates to ample living space downstairs, and it’s nice to have a separate living room/ dining room and kitchen breakfast room.

You don’t need to have lots of kids to justify living in a bigger house.

If people can afford it and it makes them happy, they can like wherever they like.

Well DH and I have a 5 bed 3 reception room house, I have my sewing room he has a footy room complete with beer fridge and our adult children and DGCs constantly use the 4 spare bedrooms throughout the year since we live besides the sea.

I’d love a fifth bedroom so dh and I could sleep separately when he’s snoring and maybe a gym (currently set up in the garage but would be nicer indoors.

we have a 4 bed house with a study so I guess equivalent and have no plans to move when dc leave home.

I like space in a house. My jdeal house would have:
2 x Offices
Dining room
Cinema room
Den room for the kids
3 x Guest bedrooms
Kids bedroom 1
Kids bedroom 2
Dressing room
Bathrooms
Gym room.yoga studio
Posh lounge
Comfy lounge
kitchen
Breakfast room
Karaoke room and bar- i stayed in my exes friends house that had this and it was epic
Pool house

I think that would be fine for me, dp and the kids 😁

You haven't explained what the rationale for your thinking is here, @Chickenshwarmamarma ?

Why would you wonder whether a 5 bedroom house is wasteful for 4 people, when it is within the parents means?