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Ground floor or first floor flat?

9 replies

Mummagumma · 14/09/2010 17:58

DP, baby DS and I are going to move from our current split-level first and second floor flat to a new place. The area we want to go to has mostly two-storey houses that have been chopped into two flats. Which floor we go for is the cause of some disagreement.

I would like the ground floor because I would not want to have DS play in the garden alone while I am upstairs, so he would only be able to play out while I can be with him (he is only 9 months, but am thinking a few years ahead). If we were on the ground floor, I can be in the kitchen doing things with the back door open. Also, the buggy is a hassle to bring up and down the stairs all the time. It would also feel strange and intrusive to be in my garden, and turn to see my downstairs neighbour washing up at their sink or something.

DP would like a first floor flat. He thinks it is better for security, and he also wants to have an attic to store his stuff. He has a lot of stuff. He feels we might convert it one day, for more space. He also does not want to have potentially clompy feet above him.

WWYD?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 14/09/2010 18:00

GROUND FLOOR ALL THE WAY!

We live in a first floor flat with three kids and it sucks.

Also so much easier for getting in and out with shopping and a heavy toddler in tow, especially during bad weather.

Tell DH to get rid of some shit.

escorchio · 14/09/2010 18:03

Ground floor totally, he is being completely unreasonable.
Tell him to get a storage locker if he won't clear his "stuff". Why do men have "stuff" anyway? If he is really worried about security, get an alarm.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 14/09/2010 18:06

Yep, I'd say a ground floor too; when DS1 was first born, we lived in a first-floor flat and moved into ground floor when he was a couple of months old. What a difference! Grin

SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 14/09/2010 18:06

We love our ground floor garden flat- no complaints with toddler running around and he was in and out all summer on his tricycle. We got rid of alot of stuff before moving and not missed it Grin

donteatthat · 14/09/2010 18:19

Definitely ground floor! I absolutely wouldn't consider anything not on the ground floor. We lived in a first and second floor flat too until DS was 18 months and it was a nightmare getting the buggy up and down the stairs (we had stairs up to the front door too) - especially with shopping too. We had a roof terrace which was lovely when we were just a couple but was just terrifying when Finlay starting climbing...

We did have a garden but never used it as we would have had to go down the stairs, through front door, round side of house, and through downstair's garden to get to it. Anyway, there's no guarantee you'd get a garden with an upstairs flat. I certainly wouldn't have been happy for DS to play in the garden of our old flat without me being there for several years yet.

Get a garden flat and build some storage in it for your dp's stuff. I have two friends who both have 2 children and have been able to stay in their flats easily because they are on the ground floor and they have gardens (one has even extended the kitchen). We had to sell up and are now spending a fortune in a rented place as it was too much of a struggle in our top floor flat!

Hope this helps!

thisisyesterday · 14/09/2010 18:25

ground floor. he can get a shed

is a house/bungalow out of the question?

quiddity · 15/09/2010 22:42

Are you planning to have any more dcs? If so, a first-floor flat would mean wrestling with buggies for many years to come

bethjeff · 25/09/2010 17:53

Ground floor!

I live in a duplex with an up and downstairs and spend no time in my living room or kitchen because it's upstairs and I'd rather be closer to dd when she's outside.

veritythebrave · 25/09/2010 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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