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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to move next door?

15 replies

CougheeBean · 22/02/2018 14:59

The flat nextdoor to me has just been put up to let, the landlord owns most of the building. I've made a list of pros and cons but don't know if I'm being daft?

Cons:

  • We are leaving this city in around 18-24 months
  • Rent is £100 more each month
  • DP has been promising to fix quite a few things in our flat which he hasn't completed, oven knob has fallen off, broken tap in the bathroom, curtain rail not attached properly etc
  • We have furniture which has been bought deliberately to fit the flat we're in now
  • Walls need repainting in current flat due to DP treating clumsiness as an extreme sport (coffee on 12ft ceilings, how?!), I assume we would do this ourselves
  • Worried about keeping deposit for reasons above
  • I'm not 100% sure landlord is a good guy, has been known to enter flat without permission on several occasions. Get occasional snarky comments but I give as good as I get and it always stays on the faux-polite side of things.
  • Kitchen may be slightly smaller
  • I'd struggle to pay rent and bills alone if DP and I broke up

Pros:

  • Bedroom is 3x bigger than ours - it's huge and we really struggle with storage
  • More windows and natural light
  • No moving van costs
  • May be able to transfer existing deposit to this flat with just a minor top-up instead of saving the whole thing
  • Landlord is already fine with our pets
  • We love the location and wouldn't voluntarily move to any other flat except this one
  • Flat layout gives much more privacy as it only partially shares a wall with our flat whereas we're sandwiched between 3 others including this one
  • We are nearly at the end of our contract, last time we renewed the LL increased rent 15%, I'm worried he might do it again which would make this flat similar in price to next door anyway.

The £100 a month is affordable, we would just put less in savings while we live there.

WWYD? Stay put and comfortable or grab the opportunity?

OP posts:
Aprilshowerswontbelong · 22/02/2018 15:02

Move - or you will have neighbour envy when new tenants move into it!!

Perendinate · 22/02/2018 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeathStare · 22/02/2018 15:04

Two questions:

  1. Were you thinking of moving (right now) anyway? Or would you have been happy to stay where you are for the next 18-24 months if next door hadn't become available?
  2. Why is your landlord not doing the repairs?
CheeseCakeSunflowers · 22/02/2018 15:07

My gut feeling is go for it, then get the repairs that need doing in your current flat done asap.

Original poster
CougheeBean · 22/02/2018 15:09

I was thinking that if I signed another 12 month contract that rent would be secured for another year, whereas mine could be nearly as high in 2 months when we renew

No we definitely would not be thinking of moving otherwise! One big reason is due to being top floor in a building with no lift...

Landlord isn't doing repairs because DP is a tradesperson and it's the old cliche of his ego saying he'll fix things, then comes home from fixing things all day and doesn't want to do ours. Much to my annoyance DP always tells LL he will do extra jobs for free (we have an ultimatum / time limit for DP to fix these before I get in a contractor, not really fair to put it on the LL after DP said we'd do it)

OP posts:
frasier · 22/02/2018 15:09

We rented a place for a year to see if we liked the area. The year seemed like a long time once we were in, and we had to buy all new furniture etc it was a hassle. Go for it but keep the redecoration in the new place to a minimum for when you leave again, no coffee on the ceiling if possible.

(Yes you'll have to make good the old property or risk losing your deposit. This may be expensive if you need carpets cleaned, ceilings repainted etc.)

Original poster
CougheeBean · 22/02/2018 15:25

I didn't think coffee on the ceiling was possible anyway so no promises Grin

Luckily (?) the flat was an utter shithole when we moved in and we've already spruced up the kitchen with the landlord's blessing. We don't have carpets but the floor is a good point, it's the most disgusting, wonky, crappy laminate I've ever seen (next doors is better!!) and I don't know how the landlord could in all good conscience rent it to someone new in this state. It was bad when we moved in but 4 years down the line it is understandably worse. I can't imagine he'd be overjoyed to redecorate so soon after repainting next door...

OP posts:
OutyMcOutface · 22/02/2018 15:28

I would move if you are u happy where you are.

rogermooresfifthwife · 22/02/2018 15:28

But will he landlord agree to this? Struggling to see why he would, he'll just have to remarket your flat which sounds like it needs work. He'd be better off getting someone new in next door and hoping you stay.

frasier · 22/02/2018 15:30

He may have lots of paint left over and be pleased to redecorate and put up the rent!

frasier · 22/02/2018 15:32

As far as landlord in concerned, if he thinks you are looking to move out anyway (which obviously you are if you apply for next door) he surely would prefer you went there than left altogether, especially after 4 years trouble free renting from you. He'll be getting you for another year or whatever the contract is at least.

He doesn't know that you would only move next door and would stay put otherwise...

PhelanThePain · 22/02/2018 15:32

I wouldn’t bother. I’d save the extra £100 a month for 18 months and put up with less storage.

Original poster
CougheeBean · 22/02/2018 16:05

Roger quite a few neighbours have moved around inside the building - including the ones who are leaving next door! They used to live downstairs in a studio, same landlord.

I do think our flat could be worth a LOT more with a lick of paint, new floors and a new kitchen - the appliances and cabinets are ancient.

The flat's available at the end of March, so I think I'll sit down with DP tonight and work out how long/expensive it would be to sort our current flat out and whether we'd have time to do that without killing eachother as we have a big holiday coming up in April too and the stress may not be worth it. I was also thinking about the struggle of boxing up all our stuff but that wouldn't be necessary at all, at most we'd need bin bags and a couple of friendly helpers - another pro!

OP posts:
LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 22/02/2018 16:26

Why would he agree? You've fucked one if his flats up already.

Original poster
CougheeBean · 22/02/2018 16:52

"Fucked one of his flats up"? Really? Confused a tight bathroom tap, a knob that fell off an oven which appears to be older than I am, and a grubby wall? You sound a tad precious, I've actually worked in lettings before and if you think that's fucked up.... well I bow to you, your holiness

In all seriousness you're talking about my home which we've actually made quite lovely IMO and I'm sorry about your bad day but there's no need to be rude Smile

OP posts:
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