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Original poster

Would you buy a bungalow as a family home?

71 replies

Roaringlogfire · 19/12/2021 08:28

I have another thread going also about whether to have a loft conversion.

We bought a bungalow as a family home as we really wanted to be in this area. I never saw myself living in a bungalow.
10 years on and we are out growing it.

A loft conversion might be beyond us so we are also considering a one room extension as a compromise. This would make it a 4 bed or 3 bed / 2 reception.

Would this make it undesirable? IE too big for retirees but still a bungalow therefore putting off families.
As a family would you consider a 4 bed bungalow?

OP posts:
LavenderAskew · 19/12/2021 09:29

Are you extending because you want to live in it or because you want to make it more sellable? If you make it suit your family, you could well be the retirees in it.

Also no it wouldn't put me off for a family. Plus, often when retirees are looking for a Bungalow it involves downsizing. Which can be a quite shock when the reality of that means a much smaller space. So a bigger Bungalow could be a bonus.

RedToothBrush · 19/12/2021 09:33

I grew up in a bungalow. I hated it. I wouldn't buy a bungalow as my first choice.

That said it depends on location. My parents bought a bungalow as it was best value for the size of the property. So demand is there.

Some properties locally conversely have a good sized premium over house now though. A 3 bed will easily set you back more than a terrace 3 bed. Mainly because of the square footage and plot size / garden.

I wouldn't buy one but plenty of people would. Its not going to restrict who might buy it from you. 3 storey townhouses have more of a problem with that than bungalows.

Roselilly36 · 19/12/2021 09:45

@Iamanicepersonreally

I've bought a bungalow. I love it
Me too, best move we have made.
vickyc90 · 19/12/2021 09:47

We would buy a bungalow but they are at a massive premium near us. My parents would love a large four bedroom bungalow (or the land to extend) for their retirement. I think in general houses have got bigger for their generation (now getting smaller Angry) so they don't want to down size to a tiny bungalow

Original poster
Roaringlogfire · 19/12/2021 10:00

Thank you for the replies. We really want to stay in it as it's a lovely area but we're also trying to factor in retirement, affordability and the saleability of it when we or our children eventually sell it.

OP posts:
Whitefire · 19/12/2021 10:10

My sister and her family have a 4 bed bungalow, it offered the space inside and out that they wanted. The price wasn't such an issue as they were relocating and there was the price difference between the two areas.

It had taken a while to sell but it was a time warp and needed a lot of work, something that would put most people off, but was exactly what my BIL wanted.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 19/12/2021 10:19

We live in a 3 bed, 3 reception bungalow and absolutely love it. I'd hate to go back to a two storey house, to be honest. It feels so much more spacious this way.

friedeggandsauce · 19/12/2021 10:24

@Bussinbussin

We have a bungalow, not uncommon in Australia and I've always wondered why they're not so popular, or seen as old people's houses, by some in the UK.

We have 3 bedrooms and a fourth which has been a formal dining, second (kids) living, and is now my home office.

I love being close to all parts of the house at all times. Easy to keep an eye on what's going on, easy to tidy and clean. Most rooms open to the garden.

@Bussinbussin in the UK we don't have the space for bungalows in the same way as Australia and NZ. This is why I think they are normally for older people as they tend to be smaller than the ones in Oz.

We're in a bungalow which is quite Australian in style, we love it!

ginnig · 19/12/2021 10:35

I would never consider a bungalow for anything other than mobility issues. I dislike bedrooms on the ground floor.

ginnig · 19/12/2021 10:39

I lived in a large 2nd maisonette & there are advantages to one level living.

ProperCupOfTea · 19/12/2021 10:43

@gofg

We have a bungalow, not uncommon in Australia and I've always wondered why they're not so popular, or seen as old people's houses, by some in the UK.

I've often wondered that too (I'm in NZ). I've never wanted a house with stairs, and would much rather have all the rooms on one level. Many of the houses in the UK look so small to me.

I've never understood the UK snooty attitude to bungalows. As I tell friends, in New Zealand they are just called "houses"!

When I grew up, houses with more than one story were either built on a hill/steep slope (e.g. Wellington) or considered posh/wealthy i.e "ooh X lives in a 2-storey house".

So yes OP, I'd buy one. And they make great family homes, no lugging stuff or kids up and down stairs, usually got big gardens. British terrace houses feel very small and poky to me.

CharSiu · 19/12/2021 11:10

Land is more expensive in the UK, population density is far higher than in Australia or NZ. Plus some patterns of settlement or houses are extremely old. Whilst it may not be the norm to live in a house that is pre Victorian era they do exist, I grew up in a Georgian house, DH Aunt lives in a house built in the 1600’s.

I like windows open all year round and because of that I would not like a bungalow as don’t fancy sleeping with a window open as a security risk. Another huge difference is it is incredibly unusual for any UK house to have air conditioning.

But overall it’s mainly the cost of land.

A580Hojas · 19/12/2021 11:13

The only problem with bungalows is that you'd be surprised how quickly you can lose the ability to use stairs if you are not doing it several times a day. My elderly Mum moved into a bungalow in her mid 50s. She really hasn't been able to manage stairs for years which puts enormous restrictions on her life - who she can visit, where she can go etc. It's a great shame.

Tal45 · 19/12/2021 11:16

I grew up in a bungalow and would love to live in one again.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 19/12/2021 11:18

I've lived in many flats over the years - love horizontal living and yes, I'd love to live in a bungalow.

user1471538283 · 19/12/2021 11:57

I'm looking for a bungalow! But I do not want a dormer one as you can get a house cheaper. I was raised for sometime in a bungalow.

LittleDidSheKnow · 19/12/2021 12:07

I don't live in a bungalow, but I do like them.
Because everything is on the same level and they have a big "footprint" they feel so spacious.

DS, in his 20's, has bought a two bed bungalow as his FTB house. I don't think he cares that it's not cool!

Crinkle77 · 19/12/2021 13:10

No they're noisy. If you're in bed trying to sleep then you can hear other people moving about. I also feel like there's less privacy in a bungalow. I like being able to goupstairs out of the way. Sometimes you just need to put a bit of distance between yourself and the people you live with.

friedeggandsauce · 19/12/2021 16:02

@Crinkle77

No they're noisy. If you're in bed trying to sleep then you can hear other people moving about. I also feel like there's less privacy in a bungalow. I like being able to goupstairs out of the way. Sometimes you just need to put a bit of distance between yourself and the people you live with.
Not in my bungalow you can't! I know a lot of semi detached houses that are readily noisy and you can hear music and plugs being put into sockets! Our bungalow is much quieter,
WoSarah · 19/12/2021 16:03

I would for sure if it was big enough, of course.

gofg · 19/12/2021 23:50

I've never understood the UK snooty attitude to bungalows. As I tell friends, in New Zealand they are just called "houses"!

Grin That's so true. In fact a bungalow in this part of the world doesn't actually just mean a one storey house, it's a particular style of older house, and no-one would say they lived in a bungalow unless they lived in that style of house.

gofg · 20/12/2021 00:08

I like windows open all year round and because of that I would not like a bungalow as don’t fancy sleeping with a window open as a security risk.

Part of the joy of living in NZ - I have some windows which are rarely ever shut, including my bedroom one.

BritInAus · 20/12/2021 00:20

Yes, also in Australia in a bungalow - although here it's just known as a 'house!' Definitely the norm here to be in one storey, they're just called 'houses' whereas two storey homes are known as 'townhouses' to differentiate.

It felt strange when I first moved here, now I really like it. No stairs with small children is wonderful. The only thing I don't like is when you have people over they can see into the bedrooms (unless doors are all kept shut) so I always rush to make beds nicely etc if people are coming over - much easier if you're in two stories as I assume adult visitors wouldn't go upstairs (unless that's the only loo).

If we stay in this house long term and have another child, we may eventually build another storey for a couple of bedrooms / a teenage retreat/second living area.

Anaximedes · 20/12/2021 00:27

Yes definitely. I love bungalows. I had some school-friends who lived in bungalows, with or without a room in the roof. Didn't seem to cause any problems.

PickAChew · 20/12/2021 00:33

Ours is technically a bungalow, though it has 3 bedrooms and a shower room upstairs. Downstairs is as big as the house we moved out of, though and has a decent sized kitchen/diner and 2 reception rooms as well as a bathroom. We lived downstairs only for our first 6 months, as upstairs was a wreck due to a leaky roof and elderly neighbours have lived downstairs only in their final years.

I would have loved a large pure bungalow, but we do have the best of both worlds.

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