Moving to the city into Grandmother's home?

[Grandealmondmylklatte]

Hello, any advice would be hugely appreciated, I am in turmoil.

I am on my own with two sons, 8&12, the youngest is expected to receive an ASD diagnosis. I work FT in my career and we have a dog. I have private rented a 3-bedroom semi-detached house rurally near Edinburgh for 8 years, but LL is looking to sell in May next year.

My Grandmother fell very ill this year, consequently she is no longer able to live in her flat in Edinburgh which she owns outright. it is a 2 bedroom plus box room (large enough for a bed, no windows) in a great school catchment area. it is an old tenement building, there is no combi boiler and only a bath.

I have an excellent credit score, but no real savings. I have been looking at other private rents but have been priced out of the market, even two-bedroom flats in deprived areas are more expensive than the house because my LL never raised the rent. I have no experience of council houses, I did call the council to be told temporary housing will be around 7 to 8 years before a permanent place will become available, and the temporary housing will be in one of two locations. We would also be offered a 2 bedroom property, which means I would sleep in the living room as my sons have an incredibly turbulent relationship so them sharing a room would not be an option. I also WFH 90% of the time.

Anyway, that is the context, but my questions is, would it be wrong to uproot us from the countryside and move into my Grandmother's flat? I would pay her rent. The boys could perhaps stay in their current schools, I would just have to drive them, which would add to the work. currently the primary school is next door and my eldest gets a bus to high school. they will hate me for leaving.

I love living in the countryside, i walk out my door and I'm in a field with the dog in my lunch break. I havent lived in the city for a very long time, it would be a huge shock.

if we dont take the flat, my grandmother will sell it, and she wants to know within the next few days what I am doing. I don't know what to do for the best for everyone, and for the first time in years, I wish I had a partner/husband to share this with!

Good grief do it!

You can move out again in a few years time if it’s not right but the housing market right now, especially for what and where you’re looking if beyond tight!

This is a great opportunity right when you need it and if it doesn’t turn out to be forever that’s fine too

Bed room each for them and box room for you plus home working space else where in house. Ideally with a window!
city living is tighter but there is stuff to do outside your door too

thank you for your replies. I just feel overwhelmed at the thought and expense of moving and going from rural to city. I also worry my children will hate me, I can drive them to their current schools for a while, but it wont be sustainable. My youngest has therapy funding attached to the school, which won;t just follow him. My eldest will especially hate me because of leaving school.

my Grandmother has said that if she sells, she will give me a fair amount towards a deposit, but I don't know how aware she is of how much deposit is needed now, and i didnt want to push of course.

I really hope I dont sound ungrateful, I know we are lucky to even have this as an option

Your kids will adjust. Moving schools isn't the worst thing ever to befall a child or adolsescent.

Are there other relatives who will be trying to pressure Gran to sell so they get their "share" of her funds?? I wouldn't want a situation like that. Where is she going to be?

yes, its quite complicated. Gran has had to move into sheltered housing, the rent i pay will cover more than her rent. my uncle didnt want me to move into the flat, but he lives abroad and has been very negative towards my mum and I, even though we have been looking after my gran and organising everything, visiting etc. he hasnt seen my Grandmother for a few years. Gran did say to me he has 'softened', I'm not sure what that means, but I think it was in reference to the flat. The rest of the family are happy for us to move in.

But yes, its not straightforward, and I feel very burdensome, this is why I wonder it maybe best for my Grandmother if she just sells.

Where abouts in the city? V central like Old Town, Haymarket or Trinity, Stockbridge, Leith? What I love about Edinburgh is there's lots of parks and even the canals to walk along.

flat is in Newington/Southside area, overlooks Arthur's Seat