To give up a rent-free flat for a more baby-friendly home?

You’d be insane to give up your living situation. Not paying any rent is an obscene life advantage. You don’t need anywhere bigger for maternity and the baby will be in your room for a little while anyway and then it will be small and doesn’t need their own space or much room for a while. I’d stay put for the next three years and put a good chunk of money away. For the small hassle of leaving the buggy in the car and being under each others feet for a little bit, you’re essentially gaining £20,000ish a year. That amount is worth the tiny hassles. It’s a no-brainer!

Definitely stay, save and aim to move before the dc2. You can manage for now, although it does depend a bit how the baby is. The flat will feel very small if you have a baby that cries a lot etc and you will need to go out a lot.

My biggest concern would be DH wfh in the living room once the baby is here. That could be really hard for both of you - but he can always find a workspace elsewhere.

Don't forgot that if you not buying now prices are still going up.

If you can afford, buy ASAP

Staying put for a year or so is fine. You need the extra space as they get older - bikes, garden to play in, etc.

Start looking, it is a real luxury to have time,

Get a really lightweight compact buggy that you can carry in one hand. It would be insanity to give up that saving potential while you have a really portable small baby!

First time mum living in a two bedroom flat on a second floor without a lift 😊 I was incredibly anxious before giving birth but it’s really manageable especially if it’s rent free. I’d move when you absolutely have to but a newborn is fine for a flat and having less stress would be invaluable.

Surely you've saved a large amount of money so buy

Absolutely stay put. Baby can stay in your room with you well into toddlerhood, if necessary. I'd only move once you're about ready for a second child.

Save like crazy so you have a sizeable deposit for a house.

We were living in a one-bed apartment when we had our first, it was totally fine, and our bedroom was small! I kept the pram in the boot of my car outside and used a sling a lot because I love them anyway. Honestly, it's fine.

Just as you don't need much space with a baby or toddler, so you don't need that much for small children.

You don't have to move from the 1 bed straight to a 3 bed house with room to extend - you could have a half-way house of a 2.5 room flat for eg.

I'd stay as long as you can, possibly until baby 2 comes along, your first baby could easily stay in with you up to 18months or beyond, I'd stay put and try to save as much as possible, plan to move when you actually run out of space. Your baby doesn't need a nursery and babies don't have to come with so much stuff.

It’s nice to have a nursery etc but honestly it isn’t needed. For my second we had a new house and their own bedroom, but at 3 she’s in with us most nights and uses the living room as a playroom and literally uses her own room for an hour tops a day and that’s just her pretending she’s asleep 😂
you will make whatever work honestly. If you want to move before baby and it’s feasible and feels right do it, but if I was in your position knowing what I know now I would stay put! Best of luck whatever you and your family decide! Exciting times ahead x

Stay and SAVE SAVE SAVE!!! You could put yourselves in an amazing position. Do you both have LISAs? Are all savings/investments doing as much as they can be?

Keep saving for another couple of years and then move. I don’t think you would be able to buy in the neighbourhood unless your financial circumstances changes significantly. But in any case, you would be able to buy a bigger, children friendly property a little outside of London.

For now, you can decorate the main bedroom in calming way so baby has a calm space, which will work for you two as well. Get a chest of drawing for baby’s stuff, you can decorate a corner in with baby friendly yet calming designs if you like.

Small bedroom can be your dh’s office room during your maternity leave. So you will have 2 rooms for you and baby during day time - main bedroom and living room.

Flats are great with babies, even second floor flats. Things that make it easier: sling, baby carrier, all weather sling cover, online shopping, supermarket deliveries, a pram that is very easy to fold and unfold and fits easily inside your car boot, not buying things you don't need, avoiding giant pointless items like jumperoos, a next to me crib, not bulk buying or buying large items like the cot in advance of when you actually want to use them, going out to baby groups rather than buying all the toys, a small designated home working space somewhere DH won't be constantly interrupted, a space somewhere outside the home where he can retreat to work when necessary. Admittedly some storage space will be an advantage if you want to store baby clothes etc for a future second child - if you have family who could store a few boxes that will help you (or a storage unit is a lot cheaper than rent).

No way.
Stay put and save like mad men / women....

You dont need to move until youngest is at least 18m or 2yrs and/or pregnant with no 2.
Personally I'd be aiming to buy in 2028/2029 ish....

There is loads of bulky new born baby stuff that you'll be pushed to buy.
None of it is "mandatory" and all of it is redundant by 6 or 7 months.

The (hateful and pointless) jumperoo was used for literally 6 weeks... 🙄

Anything under 1 yr can be bought 2nd hand for 70-90% off and most is in as new / excellent condition.

We are high sarner and bought almost nothing new simply as we didnt want to waste money thst cpuld be used for a. More mat leave b. Holidays!

100% stay where you are! Madness to move. What a blessing.

I'd be staying put with a view to save and buy somewhere in around 3 years from now, when your child is 2 and a bit. You'll manage fine until then and it's so worth it to be able to live rent/mortgage free whilst on mat leave especially.

Stay and save.

During Mat Leave your view on returning to work may change so this gives you the luxury of options if that happens.

Getting a mortgage may be more challenging on Mat Leave also.

How often does dh wfh? Doing so with a baby in close proximity may be tricky. Agree with those saying start saving as space may be increasingly difficult once you have one toddler, let alone potentially two.

Another vote for staying where you are. We were in a similar situation (but with a mortgage!) with our first and honestly it was fine. We kept the pushchair in the boot of the car.

Can you both go into the office more? If not, I'd use a coworking space for your DH while you're on mat leave - a lot cheaper than moving and would be a sanity saver for all involved.

In your position I would definitely stay rent free for as long as possible. I would also try to future-proof myself with the housing market. Is it possible to think about buying your future family home now but renting it out until you absolutely need to live in it?

You really don’t need a nursery. Baby will be in with you for at least the first 6 months, and can easily be longer. Their stuff really doesn’t have to take up that much space, and you can keep a buggy in the boot of the car. Baby’s tend to prefer being close to you in a carrier anyway.
Save like crazy whilst you can and put that towards your mortgage.

Stay and save 1000%

You need to start living as if you had a mortgage to pay.

stay where you are until you can comfortably afford the mortgage and childcare costs. If you can’t do that already then you would be crazy to move.

you also need to think about mat leave and the unpaid section. Can you start living off one salary now and save the other salary.