To want to sell my house and move into a shiny new flat.

[greystripedteepee]

I'm fed up of house crap- bricks needing replacing, the garage being used to hoard things, garden looking crap, not using a lot of rooms etc. Saw an amazing penthouse flat and I'm wondering if ironically I would have a better quality of life living in a flat. I know lots of people want the detached house and garden but isn't it just a lot of stress. With the flat we would be city location rather than village just outside the city. Feels like step backwards to go from house to flat but it is so appealing! Not sure what my DH and DD would say. Probably would be great in ten years when she is a teenager.

Top floor flat with views, lots of lovely light, sunny balcony and a central location? Yes please.

I'd prefer a block with 24h concierge to manage any issues.

Watch the service charges.

CUE managing agents charging you extortionate service charge, trying to do anything communal and needing all the flats to agree, on the odd day it’s warm craving a garden, schlepping shopping from the car to the lift and out again. Also you will be solely relying on the housing market to increase the value as is unlikely you can add value to a new flat. Nothing would make me go back to flat life- House are a lot of work but it’s easier to get the issues resolved

I can see the appeal! Would really miss the storage aspect of a house though

You can't choose your neighbours - those below you!

Having just moved a year ago into my first house after living in flats for 20 years nothing would persuade me to go back to living in a flat.

First thing id be checking out is service charges etc

OMG no, I would never move from a house in a village to a flat in the city. Not unless I was in my 20's and child-free!

Why not move into another house that needs less doing to it?

Then again, no matter what property you own, you are never going to stop spending money on it.....

Dh and I were devoted flat lovers for many years, right up to the birth of ds2.

Think storage (UK flats are usually pitiful in this respect). Think outdoor space (is there a park nearby). Think practicalities like lifts and service charges. Think schools. In principle though, flat living can be amazing for families.

It's up to you what you prefer. Having lived in a central London flat, I know I hated it. Dirty air, crime, drugs, traffic, planes, little space, stupid prices, neighbours you never meet....
But I was raised in the country.

Lots of people like London.

Why not just trade for medium density. Most UK town centres have 3 to 5 bedroom terraces that have small gardens and basements for storage. You get the advantages of town living without the disadvantages of a flat.

@UserV the house doesn't really need much doing to it- it's only 6 years old and a nice detached newbuild. Maybe it's just adulting I've had enough of! Only really lighthearted as we have only lived here 2 years ago and moving again would push my mental health. Rightmove is my danger zone.

@TrueBlueYorkshire it's the large open plan spaces of these flats that I like. Not sure I would manage in a terrace.

I rent a flat. I am now in a position to buy and I want to for all the long term sensible reasons but I do love living in a smaller space that has lots of light and open spaces. Less storage for me is good because extra storage just leads to extra stuff and extra mess. It also takes me much less time to clean a flat than a house. I don't really want to buy a flat because of the fees etc though and my budget and location dictates I'd be moving to a narrow older terrace House. I have rented several of these and they always have damp and have narrow kitchens and windows that don't let in enough light. So my view is biased because of this.

I was just watching Greys Anatomy from last night and I was salivating over Jackson's apartment and him but that's another story I'm already planning on moving to one when the D.C. have all buggered off

Rightmove is my danger zone

at this OP.

There's some great comediennes on MN today.

I love my flat and would hesitate to go back to a house! I do have very good storage though (60s/70s flats are great for this, modern ones less so) direct access to a communal garden and a share of freehold, which is ideal really. The worst neighbour experience I've ever had was when I lived in a lovely house. Idiots can impact on your life wherever unfortunately.

How about a declutter and simplying the garden or something, try and recreate a bit of that feeling of everything being open, clean and easy that a light-filled flat gives?

to counteract the spiteful ones .

still, I'd rather live in a house. lived in flats all my life and always, always noise problems ....

^not directed at you obviously Lila ... thinking of another thread I'm on.

I get you OP.

However, we moved from a large open plan flat with huge Windows, bedrooms and balcony over looking the river. When we lived there I yearned for a quieter life with less noise.

We moved to a 2 Bed House. However everything feels small and claustrophobic, I can get any airflow through even with all doors and windows open, it feels really dark inside, I hate remember to put the bins out and it is just as noisy.

I would give me right arm to move back but we have relocated towns and their isn't anything similar.

tooreal I did worriedly re-read what I'd said just to check

I'd do the same in a heartbeat if dh and dd would agree.

The problem with owning a house, with garden, is that they are,oney pits and time pits. Everything you have goes into a black hole.

We lived in a flat in London and I loved it. The service charge was very high but the service was pretty good, concierge, swimming pool, good gym, gated car park and nice gardens. They were also really solidly built so very little noise from other flats, except in the summer when everyone had their windows open.

Having said that, a house does suit us better at the moment with primary school aged DC and a dog. Once the DC have grown up and left home I would be quite keen to move back to a flat again if we could find one of similar quality and facilities here. We are in Dublin, Irish people don't really have a history of high quality flat living, so most flats are built for the market that can't afford to buy a house, plus adherence to building codes for flats appears to be entirely optional so I would worry that they are not safe.

I live in a flat with my young children and I love it. Great views, lots of storage and no rooms (building is 40 years old) and great parks. No need for stair gates and I can see everything that's going on with the kids as they're only ever a few metres away from my view.

I grew up in a house and much prefer flats.

As a pp said , do be aware of service charges though as they are pretty high. Also if one of your neighbours has a leek and some of your things are ruined it can be hard to claim back for those goods , especially if it is a HA/privately owned combination.

*big rooms.

NetVolume How do you live in a flat with no rooms? Are you camping on the roof?