Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find it hard to adjust to this kind of home?

211 replies

Firefumes · 08/12/2025 00:20

I recently viewed some houses, where the front door/windows are right at pavement level. So people walking past the house can easily see in, if you were unlocking the front door, others would be directly behind you if they walk past. Aibu to feel this is a bit unsafe?

I’m sure many people manage okay. It’s just that I have had my own apartment for a few years. It’s a nice apartment complex with restricted access, gated entry, concierge so feels safe. I’m also on the 2nd floor. So I feel risk of theft or break ins are low.

Previously I lived with my friends at university, and before that I lived with my parents. My parent’s house has a long, steep driveway and a porch. Their front door isn’t accessible at street/pavement level to passers by, you’d have to take the stairs. As a result, they’ve never had any bother from strangers and their house feels safe. Was no bother leaving parcels in the porch as they were covered from street view.

But something about the houses I viewed recently, just felt unsafe. Like they were too accessible to members of the public, people just naturally end up in close proximity and able to see inside. Aibu to write these off for that reason?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Original poster
Firefumes · 08/12/2025 01:13

NuffSaidSam · 08/12/2025 00:27

I wouldn't like that either.

But as pp said, depends on what's available in your budget.

The good thing about being on the street like that is it's unlikely to broken into, too open. A burglar would much prefer your parent's house as they can get in hidden from the street/passers-by.

Ahh, my parent’s road has highly elevated houses. The stairs leading to the house are fairly annoying as the driveway is steep. I wonder if that might have put trouble off, as they literally had no bother!

Plus, they have motion activated lights, and there was always a car on the drive & lights on at home. I used to feel comfortable enough walking home whenever there.

But the houses I viewed last week, were in a much more central location with a higher footfall. Plus the road wasn’t well lit. I viewed the houses at around 5pm, pitch black outside, just felt a bit eerie.

OP posts:
Friendlygingercat · 08/12/2025 01:13

I grew up in a house like that. We called them "flat fronted terraces". There were entire streets of houses like that. Later we moved to a house with a series of steps up to the front door and a low wall a few feet in front of the windows. They were considered a step up in the world.

If I lived in a house without a garden between me and the street I would be lining the windows with that reflective foil you can get on Amazon. So nosy people who looked through the window would just see their own faces staring back at them. The film becomes transparent at night when the light is on but hopefully by then the curtains are closed.

Changingnowcosimscared · 08/12/2025 01:10

Sounds like a common type of terrace house. There are millions of those in this country

Original poster
Firefumes · 08/12/2025 01:02

DallazMajor · 08/12/2025 00:26

I used to live in a house like that.

One time a man just stood at my window just staring in at me for ages and then he tried the door handle. Luckily the door was locked

I absolutely shat myself.

Oh god. That’s what worries me. I’m in my 20s and considering buying a house alone.

I just wonder, what if someone was following me. There’s no way for me to get distance like I can with my apartment or at my parent’s.

But yeah budget wise, in London, there isn’t really much else.

OP posts:
Original poster
Firefumes · 08/12/2025 01:00

SemperIdem · 08/12/2025 00:55

I’m a bit confused - this sounds like an entirely normal style of house?

Edited

To be clearer it’s a house without a driveway nor front garden, as in the doorstep is the pavement.

OP posts:
SemperIdem · 08/12/2025 00:55

I’m a bit confused - this sounds like an entirely normal style of house?

999DonutsandLargeCoffee · 08/12/2025 00:51

I'd hate it, I'd rather live in a flat than a house like that.

ChatGPTamazing · 08/12/2025 00:44

There’s a house round here like that, I find it very odd and would hate it personally, the rest of us have gardens but their door is just right opening onto the street.

NuffSaidSam · 08/12/2025 00:27

I wouldn't like that either.

But as pp said, depends on what's available in your budget.

The good thing about being on the street like that is it's unlikely to broken into, too open. A burglar would much prefer your parent's house as they can get in hidden from the street/passers-by.

DallazMajor · 08/12/2025 00:26

I used to live in a house like that.

One time a man just stood at my window just staring in at me for ages and then he tried the door handle. Luckily the door was locked

I absolutely shat myself.

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 08/12/2025 00:24

You can choose not to buy any type of house you don't want to buy.

however, you can only buy what you can afford, so what else is within your budget? Probably not a house like your parents.