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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To even consider buying a beautiful house on the same road as a school?

165 replies

GinDaddy · 07/05/2019 14:13

Just that, really -

Have seen a gorgeous house become available; period, driveway (with marked “no parking” white lines from council) , right amount of bedrooms, short walking distance to town which is important to my other half.

The only snag? It’s four doors down from a local primary school, on the other side of the road.

We’ve been looking for this kind of house in the catchment for over two years now. Both of us keep wondering, “will my driveway be parked over (or even on?!), will I be blocked in constantly, will unreasonable behaviour be a daily occurence”?

OP posts:

Cookit · 07/05/2019 15:40

We live pretty much opposite a high school and I couldn’t say I really notice other than the bus stops being full at certain times of day. The kids seem to mostly go the opposite way to the other way I’d walk though. Not loads of cars but it’s London and no parking on any of the residential roads.

I agree with the others, go at busy times and see what it’s like.

Also is it a good school that being obviously in the catchment area for is a good thing?

EekThreek · 07/05/2019 15:49

I live near a primary school, not the same street but next to the path cutting through to the pedestrian entrance, so close enough.

People use our street for drop offs and pick ups too. It is chaos, yes, but the CFs save themselves for the main entrance. It's a cul de sac, and they park 3 abreast, compeltley blocking the road, let alone any drives. The morning is confined to about 8.40-9.05 (both roads completely back to normal with 5 mins of school starting). But in the afternoon, people starting parking up for collecting for nearly an hour before school ends. I would never have believed it, but if you're not here by 45 mins before, you don't get a space!

That said, it hasn't spoiled it for us. I don't need to get in or out during the school run, which I think makes the most difference. And weekends and holidays are blissfully quiet by comparison!

CuppaSarah · 07/05/2019 15:49

I live opposite a school and it's absolutely fine. Busy twice a day yes, but it's no issue. I even have a school run across town, so need to be out at the busy times and still no problems. The school means traffic is more consideration and on alert I've found, so in a way it's better if you have your own children.

CanYouHearThePeopleSing · 07/05/2019 16:01

I lived over the road from a primary school (kind of diagonally opposite, so not where the zig zag lines were) for 10 years. Only once in that time did someone half park over my drive and they were there for only a few minutes. It didn't occur to me when we bought the house, and it wouldn't occur to me now. As far as I'm aware, the school didn't have much parking, so people must have parked up and down the road or walked.

PlausibleSuit · 07/05/2019 16:02

Can't believe we're four pages in and no one's said penguin bollards

CupOhTea · 07/05/2019 16:05

I live very near a high school and it's fine. DH leaves for work well before school drop off and returns home well after school pick up. When I drop off dc to preschool we walk and it's fine. I just walk past all the stationary cars and think "thank fuck I'm not driving"!

Teenagedream · 07/05/2019 16:11

I live next to a primary school. I actually like it. I like to see the children going to school and hear them playing. It was great when my two were at the school. Both at uni now though. I've got double yellow lines outside which helps. Plenty of garage and drive space. I try not to have to drive out at main drop off or pick up times as can be tricky. Overall though I like it.

stucknoue · 07/05/2019 16:13

The way to look at it is that school runs are twice a day, yes they are likely to block you in but for 23 hours a day plus all weekend and through school holidays there's no problems. I made a similar compromise with my house, twice a day traffic is heavy, rest of day quiet - the house was a lot bigger because of location

Grumpbum123 · 07/05/2019 16:17

Houses on the same road here stick cones over the drive where it is marked no parking

Elphame · 07/05/2019 16:31

Has anyone mentioned that on resale you are limiting your market? A significant number of people wouldn't touch the house with the proverbial bargepole so it may be slow to sell on unless you have someone desperate to be in the catchment area

Pinkyponker · 07/05/2019 16:37

I live on a road with a primary and a secondary on and have never had any one park over or blocking my drive.
Sometimes the secondary parents drop their children outside my house so the car is there for a minute but the driver is still inside. Its honestly never been a problem.

Procrastination4 · 07/05/2019 16:40

I read so many threads about people being blocked in and I always wonder why they don’t just park across their own driveway? Then they’ll be free to drive away whenever they wish. People tend to put traffic cones outside their gateways here-it seems to work. That might be another solution. It seems a shame to miss out on a house you think is perfect for the sake of parking issues.

CupOhTea · 07/05/2019 16:42

I read so many threads about people being blocked in and I always wonder why they don’t just park across their own driveway

I have seen people do this in quieter areas. Maybe they don't do it in busy roads in case they get a ticket..?

REDCARBLUE · 07/05/2019 16:45

My friend lives opposite a primary school and each morning she puts out cones on her drive and she has no problems. Council left the cones on the pavement when carrying out works and never collected them. So they are put to use!

Stravapalava · 07/05/2019 16:49

Personally I wouldn't do it. But we're all different so...

UnderTheSeaWithMe · 07/05/2019 17:22

It depends on the school, it's schedule and how many people attend. Our local school is large. There is the morning and afternoon traffic, preschool session traffic (am + pm), after school clubs and they hold camps during holidays to facilitate childcare during the holidays. There are loads of CFer. They double park, park across and in residential driveways. There is screaming and noise during break times.

You need to visit the house at various times to see what it is like. On the + side; there may not be too many interested parties in the house.

ShinyShoe · 07/05/2019 17:26

If it was me, I’d buy it and factor in buying a cheap as chips second hand car too. Then park it across your own driveway. That way, you always have access. Move it when you need to. Problem sorted. Or buy cones or big bins and do the same

BBQsAreSooooOverrated · 07/05/2019 17:28

Definitely check out the road at school run times. I live on a Road with a primary school at the bottom, it's not great. My DC go to school the next village over and I'm often blocked into my drive by inconsiderate parents. We viewed during the summer holidays so couldn't check out the school parking issues.

I've yet to see a road near a school that isn't busy or has parking issues during school run times. It depends how much it would bother you.

SachaStark · 07/05/2019 17:48

Mumsnet is ridiculously middle class sometimes... who the fuck would buy an EXTRA CAR simply to block their own driveway, but not to drive?!

outvoid · 07/05/2019 17:50

We live on the same street as a primary school and it’s honestly fine. It gets a little busy twice a day but I’m not usually in at the time so don’t even notice.

TwelveLeggedWalk · 07/05/2019 17:53

Surely the answer to this wholly depends on the age of your children? If you have many years of school drop offs still to go and you like this school then it's a win-win. If you have 1 child in year 6 or something then there's no point!

Whiskyagogo · 07/05/2019 18:01

I live off a busy road near loads of takeaways. There are double yellow lines outside my house yet my driveway is constantly blocked in the evenings.

I don't have a car so it doesn't affect me, but if I needed to her my car in or out of my garage I would have DAILY RAGE.

CharBart · 07/05/2019 18:03

We live by a primary school and it’s fine. I think the only issue would be if you need to get out your drive or back on to it during drop off or pick up. This has never been a problem for us (on-street parking anyway!) and both children went to the school so it has been hugely convenient. I don’t think anyone nearby has had issues selling as proximity to the school has attracted families. We are in London though so residents more likely to commute by public transport (still plenty of parents dropping off by car!)

twilightcafe · 07/05/2019 18:04

My friend bought a house next door to a primary school mad fool . The drive regularly blocked (including by people she knows 'who will just be a minute').
She also sees parents sitting on her wall and congregating inside her drive while waiting to collect their kids.

Original poster

GinDaddy · 07/05/2019 19:16

Thank you everyone for all the amazing replies!

@CurtainsOpen goodness, you said it’s two doors down and “don’t buy it” - does that mean you know the house in question?

Am trying to think of a way of not outing myself or yourself but very curious now of course. 🚩

OP posts:

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