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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to turn down dream flat because of the area?

38 replies

jammygem · 14/08/2014 20:25

Long story short, trying to get my foot on the property ladder, and I have a chance of maybe buying a beautiful flat in a converted church - the layout is great, it's so beautiful, modern fitted kitchen and bathroom, and the garden is lovely for my cat too. All modern and crisp and clean inside, but outside a beautiful impressive old church. All in all, it is the dream first place for me, and right in my budget as well.

Only problem was the location - it is slap bang in the middle of one of the roughest areas of the county and there's no way I would have felt safe living there alone.

My DSis is shocked that I'd give up the opportunity to buy such a lovely flat "just because" of the area. It's officially Sold STC but the estate agent has warned me that it's likely to fall through and I have a good chance if I want it.

OP posts:

StrangeGlue · 14/08/2014 20:29

Tbh if it doesn't feel safe it's not your dream flat. I'd walk away tbh. Pretty flat is no good if you can't sleep.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 14/08/2014 20:29

IMO, it's not your dream flat if you don't like the area where it is. Keep looking!

Andrewofgg · 14/08/2014 20:30

Part of having your own home is security and if you would not feel safe what's the point? YANBU.

ChillySundays · 14/08/2014 20:30

Location location location.
If you won't feel safe there why put yourself through it. Ignore your sister - she won't be the one living there. But remember not to moan about the flat you end up buying in a nicer area but not such a nice flat!

Namechangearoonie123 · 14/08/2014 20:31

It's in Wales isn't it?

The area is really bad if so.

LokiBear · 14/08/2014 20:31

I bought my 'perfect' first time buy property in a rough area too. The house was lovely, really lovely. We were burgled, had a car window smashed and a car stolen, plants stolen out of the garden, all within the first 2 years of living there. I grew up on a council estate in a council house, I am in no way snobby, but would never buy a house in a rough area again. We recently moved to a nice area and I still feel a little jumpy because of what we went through before. Something else will come up in a nicer area.

WiggleGinger · 14/08/2014 20:34

Sadly I think its a NO!
The area is key & your safety is paramount! I'd leave it

Blankiefan · 14/08/2014 20:34

The "rule" is to buy the worst house on the best street. That way you can add value.

As a first house, I think you'd be nuts to ignore this....

Bearbehind · 14/08/2014 20:35

If the estate agent thinks the sale is likely to fall through then that's a massive alarm bell.

Getting your foot on a rotten, rickety rung of the property ladder is no use at all.

The key to good investment is buying the worst house in the best area and improving it, not buying the best house in the worst area and watching your investment turn to rat shit.

How bad are we talking? There's really rough areas and there's urban myths.

Bearbehind · 14/08/2014 20:37

Cross post blankie!

FatherReboolaConundrum · 14/08/2014 20:37

Don't do it. If you're a first time buyer and haven't just won the lottery and you can afford your dream first place, then there's likely to be a reason you can afford it. And if it's in an area with a bad reputation, how easy is it going to be to sell in a few years, when interest rates have gone up and the property market has shrunk again? Sorry to be a miserable git .

Original poster

jammygem · 14/08/2014 20:47

Namechangearooonie Nope, not Wales!

We're talking a really really shit area here. Massive levels of crime, to the point that when the London riots were going on, a couple of cars got torched. The police put out a statement basically saying "nope, nothing to do with the riots, that's just a normal Friday night here!" Probably giving the game away here, but it's also famous for its smell... (sewage works and brewery = interesting smell)

I'm glad you all think I'm making the right choice though!

OP posts:

LapsedTwentysomething · 14/08/2014 20:51

YANBU. Friends of ours endured years of harassment living in a rough part of town. Think smashed windows and attempted break ins while the DW was home alone. They were lucky to sell eventually.

SaucyJack · 14/08/2014 20:55

YANBU. We live in a "colourful" street- not even particularly crime ridden.

The novelty of being woken up at four am by yet another bloody (boom boom) punch up gets old really, really quickly.

FatherReboolaConundrum · 14/08/2014 21:00

Glad to hear you're not going to buy it - was worried for you and your cat

Laquitar · 14/08/2014 21:11

I dont know about the area but i think you can not be desperate for a new build city flat. There are hundreds of them.

Unless they give them free.

mollypup · 14/08/2014 21:32

don't do it!

AnnaFiveTowns · 15/08/2014 07:26

The most important thing, above all else, is to feel safe in your own home. Please don't buy it - I'm sure you'll regret it if you do!

DogCalledRudis · 15/08/2014 07:42

Yabu.
Often "rough" is just a misperception of people who don't live there.
Also urban demographics may change very very quickly.

I live in an inner city area that people ask: "aren't you scared?"
Scared of what? Kids safely play in the street, neighbours know each other and are helpful if you need. Ok, community is very multi-ethnic, lots of social housing and people on benefits. But that doesn't make it scary.

combust22 · 15/08/2014 07:57

Op I don't know if you have kids, but you have to consider them too. At some point they will want to explore the area, meet other children and play out unsupervised. Would this be a safe area to do so? It's one thing being nice and safe inside your home listening to drunks having punch ups late at night, but if it's not safe for a child to have some outdoor space durin the day then I would think again.
There are degrees of "roughness though" are we talking crack dealing in the streets and knife crime or just a slightly colourful area?

Iggly · 15/08/2014 08:03

Se London?

Anyway location is part of your home. If location sucks then no.

DogCalledRudis · 15/08/2014 08:03

Lots of drug dealing and knife crime happens in the city centre, around nightlife areas, not sleeping cul-de-sacs

MsApprehension · 15/08/2014 08:05

OP, I think I know exactly where you mean. The flats are pretty nice but the area is a bit bleak to be living there permanently (although I have spent plenty of time living there as a student). You probably won't get stabbed, but the surroundings don't really match the interior.

Merel · 15/08/2014 11:18

Police.uk have a great crime map of the uk.You can zoom in to any area and check the reported crimes month by month. I used it a lot before I bought my first home.

If you decide to buy in a rougher part of town, you might want to avoid a ground floor flat and consider whether there is secure parking for your car.

Latara · 15/08/2014 11:53

The problem is that you wouldn't feel safe walking round at night or even during the day.

I live in a relatively 'safe' area and I wouldn't give up my freedom to walk to Tesco or the gym at night for any price.

I did look at renting a lovely spacious one bedroom flat when I first started renting alone - but it backed onto a notorious lane and I'm glad I didn't move there because there were murders, beatings and robberies after that in that area.

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