Single parents with only 1 DC what size house do you have?

[SPHouseDilemma]

Just me, DD and a cat. Looking to move in the next few months. There’s plenty of options around where I am. Currently in a 2 bed flat which sometimes feels perfect and other times feels cramped.

Will a 2 bed house be better? 3 bed flat? I’m thinking a 3 bed house will probably be a little bit too big not in terms of space but cleaning it?

Will be renting in my area there’s only around £100 per month difference in costs. I have found an Letting Agents which rents to people with pets so that’s not a worry.

So single parents with 1 DC how big a house do you have? And how do you find it?

I have a 2 bed house and a cat ... I quite like it. It's much nicer than the 1 bed flat I started off it, we love the garden space :-)

In your position I would rent a 2 bed house so I would have a garden.

We live in a 3 bed 1930’s semi with a large useable conservatory. I like having the extra space so we can each have friends around and entertain in our own areas. Having a decent sized garden is great for large climbing frame and trampoline.

Also handy to have a spare bedroom for guests. I also earn extra money by hosting foreign students on an ad hoc basis so the extra room is useful.

5 bed here.

Mainly because the mortgage is cheap and I’m not minded to move.

I also work from home so use one bedroom as a. Office.

I’d go for a 3 bed with garden.

3 bed ground floor flat.

2 bed house

I’m another in a 3 bed 1930’s semi.

We have a playroom and utility downstairs which are godsends, but I never use the spare room. It’s meant to be an office but it’s really a dumping ground and I work from the kitchen.

I wouldn’t hesitate to go into a 2 bed house, or poss a 3 bed flat. We had a 2 bed flat when Ds was a baby and I found it a bit claustrophobic - that could have just been the stage he was at though!

I would go with a 3 bed house if affordable. Gives a spare bedroom for family or friends to stay over, use as an office or an extra playspace for the child to leave things like train sets set up a few days.
A third bedroom doesn't create that much more cleaning.

Otherwise a 2 bed house. A house instead of a flat reduces the risk of noisy neighbours from above or below.

Do you want to be dealing with a garden - grass cutting, weeding, hedges? Will you be able to afford a gardner?

Not a flat (and we're not a family, but we are 2 people in a 2 bed) but we used to live in a back to back terrace that just had a small concrete front yard and we moved to a semi with a big garden and the gardening is a bit much to be honest, so I'd make that a consideration.

I think what size property you're comfortable in is more to do with how much stuff you have, how tidy you are, whether you like to spend time in the same room or separately, whether you both like to be noisy or quiet and for the flat/house/garden thing, whether you like to be inside or outside. Also whether you need working at home/hobby space.

2 bed house with small garden for me, DD & the cat

The only time I wish it was bigger is when people come to stay and I have to sleep on the sofa, but otherwise it's perfect.

I'm in a 1 bed flat with my son. can't afford anything else

Happy to do some garden maintenance, so hedge cutting, grass cutting etc.

Don't need a spare room as all my family live locally or the ones who live further afield stay with my aunt or cousin who both have 2 spare rooms.

We like to spend time together, but DD is currently preschool aged, so might change as she gets bigger but can move again if needs be, that's the beauty of renting.

2 bed house (which was originally a 1 bed house) so very small. We have a conservatory to throw toys into and a shed for random bits. Its just big enough and I love it. I lived in a three bed detached with a garage beforehand and had the clear out of all clear outs before we moved. I don’t miss anything I got rid of (including my husband). No room for anyone to stay but that’s the way I like it .

including my husband

I wholeheartedly agree with this

I’d rent a 1 bed flat and save the difference for a deposit

We have a three bed semi, quite a good size. Two receptions, large kitchen, long garden, garage. We moved here when son was 4, prior to that we had a two bed terraced which was very small indeed, typical first time buyer's house.

Plenty of room here for husband and I since son has flown the nest, it's nice.

DD (2) and I are in a 3 bedroom house, though it's actually quite small as all the rooms are small. I actually could do with another room! I am self employed and at the moment my office is in the spare bedroom. I really could do with the whole room for work but we have a lot of visitors (probably totalling 12 weeks a year) so really need the bed in there.

PS: I think a 2 bed house with small garden would be perfect for you, SPHouseDilemma. Nice to have some outside space at the back, kids appreciate that but nothing too overwhelming.

Hope you find something really good.