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Would you TTC in a one-bed flat?

32 replies

HopeAndDriftWood · 20/11/2020 18:34

(Please be gentle! I'm a bit sensitive tonight so have avoided AIBU on purpose)

Long story short, husband & I should be completing on a two-bed house soon... but it's not going to happen. Our buyer can't proceed, as the bank found out that they'd been furloughed and not disclosed it, and now they can't borrow enough money.

We've had two days of estate agents valuing, and generally, they're all saying the flat is now worth £25k less, and that it won't sell easily - while the market here is generally fast-moving and bouyant, only higher-priced properties are selling right now. Usually our flat would be a hit with first-time buyers and investors, but the mortgage products aren't there right now, and the big employer round here is struggling. Rightmove is full of one-bed flats, most of which haven't sold - even a brand new block in the middle of town have been dropped by £50k, and are all still there. One EA even said they'd have to decline the opportunity, as they don't want to further damage the market.

So, it looks like we might be stuck here for a while, unless we try a private sale and are successful. The flat is lovely - a Victorian conversion, we've had a new boiler so it's warm, it's in a great location and the rooms are pretty big and light. We've avoided doing the kitchen as we were going to sell, but we could either do it or make it work as it is. But it is a one-bed flat... it's fine for the two of us, but feels cramped when the in-laws came round (pre-Covid!), for example.

I have started to come off the pill after 13 years to TTC. I'm 30, husband a few years older. He thinks we carry on regardless. Baby would be in with us for a while anyway, even if I did get pregnant quickly, and we'd probably have moved before it needed much space...

Would you put it all on hold? We've been waiting for a while for everything to be "ready", finances to be good, jobs to be secure, etc... it feels like there is always something else!

OP posts:
nowishtofly · 20/11/2020 18:39

I would crack on, you'll find a way to make it work. Like you say, baby will be in with you for a while anyhow.

PurBal · 20/11/2020 18:44

DH and I live in a Victorian Conversion 1 bed flat. I am pregnant. We have sold our flat, but nowhere to move to so will probably have to move in with family. In hindsight I wish we had just planned to stay in the flat. Lots of people around here stay in their city centre 1 bed until their LO is 18 months. My cousin's LO is almost 3 and they're still happy in their 1 bed.

HopeAndDriftWood · 20/11/2020 19:09

Well that was reassuring! Thank you both... I'm a bit of an overthinker, it seems I was doing that here too 🙈

@PurBal Congratulations! I hope things work out with the flat, that sounds far more stressful than what we've got going on Flowers

OP posts:
SomethingOnce · 20/11/2020 19:12

If you took longer to conceive than you expected (especially if you want more than one in the fullness of time) would you regret delaying?

One-bed up to 3yo is no problem at all, imo.

Good luck with your moving plans Flowers

YakkityYakYakYak · 20/11/2020 19:16

If you’re otherwise ready to start TTC then I wouldn’t put it off for this reason. To be honest, a 1 bed flat might be easier with a baby, less to keep clean and tidy.

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2020 19:16

We did! Owned a one-bed, couldn’t afford to buy a bigger property so we got pregnant then we moved to a bigger rented property and rented out our one-bed. Was great! Eventually bought again when DC1 was 7 ... and the flat appreciated in value a lot in that time.

So your choices aren’t just one bed or nothing I guess I’m saying - you can rent it out if it won’t sell.

TheDowagerDuchess · 20/11/2020 19:18

Well I did! Wasn’t ideal though. We knew we were moving out of the flat we owned to rent in another area for a bit so ended up renting a two bed flat when she was a baby. When she was just two we bought a 5 bed house in yet another area so the fact she was conceived in a 1 bed flat didn’t really make a difference.

Then we divorced though so joy all good news...

Nohomemadecandles · 20/11/2020 19:20

Nothing's ever going to be the perfect time. Go for it. (I did)

CtrlU · 20/11/2020 19:23

There’s no perfect or right time. I would just get on with it

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 20/11/2020 19:27

We currently live in a 3 bed house with DD1(6yo) and DD2(8wo). If I just think about DD2, we use our bedroom, the lounge and the nursery. She obviously sleeps in our room and I’m with her in the lounge during the day. Her nursery is used for changing and storing her clothes, etc. We could store those things elsewhere and set up a changing area in the lounge instead if we didn’t have that room so I think it’s doable in a 1-bed flat.

However, does your DH work from home currently? Mine does and needs to be in a separate room to a potentially noisy baby. He is set up in the dining room.

The other thing to consider is space for baby stuff. Is your room big enough for a cot? Do you have somewhere you can keep a buggy? Do you have the storage space for baby clothes, bedding, nappies, etc.?

KyraGoose · 20/11/2020 19:29

Go for it. Good luck.

MuchTooTired · 20/11/2020 19:30

We did! Luckily our bedroom was large so we divided it and made another bedroom for the DTs.

AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 20/11/2020 19:32

Yes of course. My three year old is still in with us most nights so I wouldn't worry too much about space

MustardMitt · 20/11/2020 19:52

It depends how tidy you are. It was hard enough when our twins were born in a (small) three bed. I never felt we had enough storage for bedding, towels, baby toys etc.

Indoctro · 20/11/2020 19:52

Well it took me 5.5 years to get our son out our bed Hmm so I'd crack on

Child could be in with you for a good few years even if it means a toddler bed in your room

Yeah it might be cramped but you will make it work

FippertyGibbett · 20/11/2020 19:52

Get on with it !!

TotalBitch · 20/11/2020 19:54

Yeah, go for it! Worst case scenario is that you end up sharing a room for a bit longer than you want. Many parents end up doing that, even if they have massive houses!

Twospaniels · 20/11/2020 20:02

We were in a one bed flat til our daughter was 14mths old. The bedroom was quite big and her cot was in the corner. Bot ideal, but we managed and so will you.

ireallyamthewalrus · 20/11/2020 20:13

We waited until we bought our family home, then TTC and found it took years to have a baby.

Crack on. If you fall pregnant quickly you’ll manage fine.

TotalBitch · 20/11/2020 20:24

FWIW we had our first dc in a rented two bed flat. Not one other person in our nct group was still renting. But it worked out well. I didn't really want to buy a big home and then discover we couldn't have children or something. We had to move further from the city (London) to buy a house, so it would have made an enormous difference to our lifestyle if we hadn't had kids. We would have stayed on the outskirts of London in a smaller place sometimes wish we had and stayed in flats.

Sandcastles09 · 20/11/2020 20:27

Yes! We did and it was fine, now have two in a very small 2 bed. You just have to be creative with storage!

Ellieboolou33 · 20/11/2020 20:40

Do it! I had a tiny one bed flat with a baby and a dog and it was absolutely fine, we moved when she was 3 and I was pregnant with my second.

If it's any consolation I'm in a 4 bed house now and find it such hard work to clean, the flat was always tidy and ordered and it was completely fine with a baby.

Good luck!

Hellothere19999 · 20/11/2020 20:50

Personally I wouldn’t fancy it. Sometimes my partner needs sleep and can’t sleep with us. Could you do as another poster has said and rent it out and rent a bigger place? I think that seems like a good idea tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️

user1493494961 · 20/11/2020 20:57

I would carry on with your plans, good luck!

Heyahun · 20/11/2020 21:24

Lolz yeah I’m still living in it at 6 months pregnant

Our purchase of a 2bed place just fell through so looks like we will be here a good bit longer

I’m fine with it our bedrooms big enough and I do love where I live

Baby won’t care doesn’t need it’s own room