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Original poster

Would you buy a house without a garden?

130 replies

Tearsforyears · 31/08/2020 13:26

Excellent area, new build so no need to do much work, close to a park and a Main Street. But no garden? (Two kids 4&8)? On a new estate with a small park and plenty of kids.

I live in Scotland so whilst the garden is nice for bbqs etc we don’t actually get the opportunity that get out and sit.

For the same price you can get a house with a garden but you sacrifice location.

OP posts:
notheragain4 · 01/09/2020 07:58

A beautiful 4 bed detached house came up in a dream town location of ours, very naice area, in budget for us but had literally no garden. It would probably have been worth at least £100k more with a garden I think, we didn't view it.

Mumsnet loves location as the be all and end all but nope definitely not worth it in this case.

SnuggyBuggy · 01/09/2020 08:00

I suppose it could be an option for an elderly person who regularly had family come to stay. Wouldn't be good with kids, might as well get a flat.

Strugglingtodomybest · 01/09/2020 08:00

No, I wouldn't. We bought a house with a small garden because neither of us were interested in gardening. 15 years later, it's now the only reason for moving, I love my house but I want a bigger garden.

Muddyinthesticks · 01/09/2020 08:04

No, definitely not. With children it’s essential.

custardbear · 01/09/2020 08:05

Bloody hell. No chance! My kids spend half the day in the garden on the trampoline, paddling pool, playing games etc

custardbear · 01/09/2020 08:05

...plus you'll never sell it

vanillandhoney · 01/09/2020 08:06

Nope, no way.

LioneIRichTea · 01/09/2020 08:08

I think since COVID I wouldn’t now. It was a lifeline when we were locked down in the beginning and I know people who were cooped up in flats and it was awful for their mental health.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 01/09/2020 08:09

If I was on my own yes,with kids no.
Kids can be chucked out the garden in wellies and coats , it doesnt have to be a heatwave for them.

NoWordForFluffy · 01/09/2020 08:12

No, for a number of reasons: the kids play out there, we dry washing out there all year round (benefit of the coastal breeze!) and we also grow a fair amount out there (considering it's a relatively small space).

woopsie · 01/09/2020 08:18

I wouldn't buy a house without a garden as I like the outdoor space but I'm terrible with gardens so it has to be patio. Also it may be harder to sell since a lot of people are now looking for properties that do provide outdoor space exclusive to the property since lockdown. I would also recommend anyone not to buy a flat with a garden. My friend recently brought one and is regretting it as people flick their cigarette butts and other small rubbish and it ends up in her garden. Also, she is not allowed to have bbqs which when she asked she was told she can.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/09/2020 08:45

Of course lots of people live in flats etc with no garden. However, people buying modern houses expect some sort of outside space, just to stick a table, bbq etc.

Can you explain the outside layout as, like many people here, I'm struggling to visualise a modern house with no outside space whatsoever.

Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2020 08:50

No but I’m struggling to think what a House with no back garden/yard at all would be like.

No for two reasons- If there was another lockdown you would really really miss out.
Secondly the view. I don’t actually use our garden that much but very much appreciate the fact that the back of our garden looks out into green space and trees. I can’t imagine just looking out onto other houses (or ????)

Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2020 08:52

Oh yes and thirdly where would you dry washing? We have a tumble dryer but much prefer drying outside.

vanitythynameisnotwoman · 01/09/2020 08:56

I have a tiny yard, and a bench out of the front of my little terrace. Is there a parking space, or space for bins? I think it really depends on whether your children practically live in the garden or have to be forced out there tbh. We could also do with a diagram Wink

toomuchtimes · 01/09/2020 08:58

No, I wouldn't even consider it.

MadMadMad · 01/09/2020 09:10

No, we have three kids and the garden was vital when they were little for so many reasons.
Apart from the (possible) inconvenience to you not having a garden I think it would be more difficult to sell when you want to move.

TheWindOnTheMoon · 01/09/2020 09:23

No. I lived in a flat with no outside space for 10 years before the DC and that didn't bother me but I'd hate it now. DS has ASD and loves being outside exploring. It's what calms him.

Oldraver · 01/09/2020 09:34

I wouldn't buy a house without a garden but did buy my house as it had the smallest garden out of the five to choose from.

Its just manageble for us

Desiringonlychild · 01/09/2020 09:45

I'm not a garden person so it wouldn't deter me. Having said that, its a bit weird for a house not to have a garden. I have a London flat (with communal garden), and those edinburgh tenement flats can be worth a lot of money so I guess its the same deal.

my DH's policy is flat for London z1-3, house with garden if we wanted to move further out to z4 and the Home counties. we want to stay in zone 3 north london so i guess it would always be flats for us, just bigger ones if we need more space (unless of course we have a million). I guess if we were scottish, it would be flats if we were in edinburgh, houses if we were living outside edinburgh

chocciechocface · 01/09/2020 09:46

@Redglitter

I live in Scotland so whilst the garden is nice for bbqs etc we don’t actually get the opportunity that get out and sit

I live in Scotland too and sit out in my garden loads. It doesn't have to be scorching weather to sit out I'd never go back to living somewhere with no garden

I'm in Scotland too. I could not live without my garden. I'm in it as often as I possibly can be.

WendyHoused · 01/09/2020 09:52

If there’s one thing lockdown demonstrated, it’s the importance of outdoor spaces for well being.

I’d not consider a house without a garden.

Lardlizard · 01/09/2020 09:55

No and certainly not with young children

ThatDamnScientist · 01/09/2020 09:59

Absolutely not (I have a 5 year old). We live near a park but having a garden has meant we didn't need to use it. I wouldn't change that for the world now, the chances of this sort of thing happening again is slim, but just in case.

Zaphodsotherhead · 01/09/2020 10:01

My son took on the rent of a house with no garden. The only outside space was a side driveway where he parked his car (road parking was taken by his housemate's car). He's not a great 'outdoorsman' and didn't think he would be worried by the lack of garden.

He's just moved into a house with a big garden. He HATED having nowhere to sit in the evening with a beer, nowhere to entertain except indoors, and he was quarantined during lockdown as he had Covid, and couldn't even go to the local park in the hot weather.

So I'd say it depends on your life and lifestyle, but beware of deciding for the life you have now, and not for the life you may want in the future.

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