Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

WWYD Naice home or more security?

19 replies

RideOnThyme · 23/05/2021 16:56

DH and I currently privately rent our home with our young DC. We’ve been here for 7 years. It’s in a lovely area . We are mid terrace.

We’re on a low income and rely on some benefits as I’m disabled. DH is in a low paid job but due to also being my carer, prospects are limited.

The house we rent is ok but it does need quite a lot of decorating and some internal work. The tenancy is due up and the landlord has contacted us to offer us an extended lease of 5 years and we can then renew again.

The other option we have is to move to a naicer house (semi detached) in the next village over. The initial tenancy is for 6 months and then rolls on. We don’t know future prospects for the let obviously.

The new house is lovely and fairly newly decorated , new kitchen , new bathrooms etc. The monthly rent is also higher but we could manage it .

Our current house is very dated but we can stay here with security.

I’m torn because all of our social circle have recently bought in to new glamorous properties and we are the poor relations Blush.

If we stay, we could spruce the place up a bit with new (cheap!) flooring, cupboard paint etc but it still wouldn’t be the same as living in a newly re furbished detached.

Buying is out of the question.

WWYD?

OP posts:
person6743 · 23/05/2021 16:58

I think in the situation you describe I'd definitely go for security.

AgentProvocateur · 23/05/2021 16:58

I’d say to your landlord that you’d be happy to sign a five year lease if he pays to tart it up a bit. It will be to his advantage - having decent tenants for five years.

WTFisNext · 23/05/2021 17:13

As a fellow renter I'd stick with the security option.

Moving is expensive business, if your new place means you don't get to renew after 6 months/1 year you'll have to find all of that money all over again for deposits/rent in advance/moving and try to find something suitable.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
Original poster
RideOnThyme · 23/05/2021 17:21

We are heading towards staying as we think for our DC would benefit from the security.

The other house is so so so lovely though.

OP posts:
Level75 · 23/05/2021 17:23

What does 'naice' mean?

AlfonsoTheTerrible · 23/05/2021 17:24

Security.

Thisnamewasnttaken123 · 23/05/2021 17:25

I would pick security and stay.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 23/05/2021 17:25

Havr you asked for it to be decorated and flooring?

NoSquirrels · 23/05/2021 17:27

If you’ve been there for 7 years, and would sign for another 5, then it’s not at all out of order to ask the LL to do some decorating/updates.

Didiusfalco · 23/05/2021 17:28

I think I would go for the security too. If you go to the new house and the tenancy ended after a year for whatever reason you could be in a much worse position. Would ask the landlord to spruce up the current place though as I bet he would have to if you left.

Etinox · 23/05/2021 17:50

@Level75

What does 'naice' mean?
Don’t be an arse.
Original poster
RideOnThyme · 23/05/2021 17:57

I wouldn’t like to ask the LL to pay for decorations as she’s been impacted by covid work wise. She’s been a brilliant LL so far.

We’re happy to pay for sprucing it up ourselves cheaply.

OP posts:
Castlepeak · 23/05/2021 18:07

Security

We are owners and had the option to move up the property ladder, but decided to stay where we are. I’m so happy we made that choice. Our home is perfectly adequate, we are comfortable here and I’m very happy that we have a financial cushion.

I actually would talk to the landlord about your desire to spruce up the place a bit. You don’t have to present it as a demand. Just tell her you want to do a bit of work on the place and ask if she can chip in a bit on materials costs.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 23/05/2021 18:16

@Level75

What does 'naice' mean?
Here you go.
raeroe · 23/05/2021 18:28

I think I would stay in the house you have but consider opening a lisa and save the difference in rent between the properties. You could potentially look to buy in the future. My husband is disabled so I know it's not easy in the slightest!

riotlady · 23/05/2021 18:38

I vote security too

user1493494961 · 23/05/2021 18:50

If it's a nice area and you're happy, stay where you are.

Original poster
RideOnThyme · 23/05/2021 18:57

A good thought to save the difference in the rent. I’ll discuss with DH.

OP posts:
WilsonMilson · 23/05/2021 19:06

I’d stay where you are the do up the place modestly, perhaps negotiate a rent reduction given the state of dilapidation and willingness to make improvements yourselves.

Moving is expensive, you have no idea what the new landlord would be like and how long you could remain in the property.

What I really wanted to say though was - don’t compare yourselves to others. That way misery lies. Loads of people may be superficially doing well and materially have more, but they may be living on credit, have awful relationships, have health issues. You just don’t know, so don’t waste a moment of your life worrying about it. Good luck.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page