To buy a house with a tiny garden?

[Holly147]

OH and I are renting a 1-bed cottage at the moment, but currently having IVF which is going well so far, so we're looking to buy somewhere more suitable for children, in the hope that we will have one soon!

We recently viewed a 3-bed period house in the centre of a lovely village with a great primary school, that ticks all the boxes and is (just about) affordable for us. However the garden is maybe 2 x 3 metres and would just about have room for a table and chairs and a few flowers! It's an overlooked front garden (there is no back garden) so a young child couldn't play out there unsupervised. The village itself is in a rural location with lots of fields, open space, a park and easy access to the canal for bike rides, etc.

There are similarly-priced houses in a nearby small town in a 70s estate with gardens two or three times the size, that would have room for swings/climbing frame etc. and a little bit more room to run around in. The town also has a good primary school, but obviously isn't quite as rural/picturesque.

OH is more practical than me and thinks we need a good-sized garden, but I love the house we viewed and think the village would be a great place to bring up children. I can't really get excited about the 70s estate houses... Aibu? Should we be going for the bigger garden in a not-quite-as-nice house/street? I realise we're lucky to be in this position and if we lived in a city or more expensive area we probably wouldn't be able to afford a garden at all. We're likely to stop at one child if that's relevant.

I hate gardens, mostly because I hate gardening.
I've never been the sort of person to sit outdoors and I'm not much into bbqs.
And I get hayfever.
A small garden (or no garden) would be perfect for me.
The question is, what sort of garden would be perfect for you?

I wouldnt OP but then Im not a fan of children "playing out" neglected and annoying for neighbours
We have a huge enclosed garden and its brilliant to open the doors and they run around in all weathers.
Annoying to have to traipse to the park all the time and houses with poor outside space compared to house size are a bugger to sell.

We had a small and overlooked (back garden) and despite living 300 yards from a lovely little park, we moved last year and one of the biggest reason was getting a bigger garden. We now have a fairly big garden and it is wonderful.

We have two preschool aged DC who LOVE the outdoors. I am not a keen gardener, but having a good sized garden has genuinely aided my mental health. The sense of space, the green, the open skies. I hated the enclosed feeling of our last garden, the neighbours although nice enough, we're so close on either side we could hear every conversation and they could hear ours.

We can now spend an entire morning or afternoon playing in our garden - we have a good shed for storing toys, a sandpit, water table, slide, swing, a paved area ideal for scooters and the little tikes car. Going to the park can be hassle on my own with both children as they are not old enough to do most bits unaided and run off in different directions. It's bliss being able to take a box of toys, some blankets and some snacks and hang out in the garden. I hope they haven't grown out of it by age 8 - I think DS might be quite sporty and we have enough space down the line for a goal post or to have a game of French cricket.

Other consideration - is the house big enough for the very long term? Because presumably the cottage has no extension potential, which the 70s one (or others) would.

Don’t do it. We made this mistake and after a year and a half, we’re looking to move somewhere with a bigger garden. I’m sure plenty manage but for us, it’s been miserable.

I found us a massive house (for 7 of us-me and 6 kids) the house space was fine-the yard at the back not so much
We did the whole 3-parks-within-a-ten-minute-walk and soon got bored plus sometimes you just wanna sling em outside and have a cup of tea while they play with the bigger outdoor toys which you cant in a small garden

We ended up moving

When I was 5 my parents moved from a house with a big garden to one with a small 3x3m garden. Growing up, I never found the small garden a problem. The house was at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and we always played out on the street or on the field that was at the other end of the street (without supervision). It really depends though on whether there are other (similar aged kids) in the village. If yes, then I see no issue, the kids will just go and play in the field behind your house/the church. It might be a bit miserable though if there are no other kids in the vicinity to play with.

What is the front garden like? You say you aren't keen on them being unsupervised but is it largish? Could you put a climbing frame up? Can they play with water or a paddling pool? If so I would consider the house. You will find ways to deal with the kids out the front. But with no space it's not ideal.

@TanMateix the house backs onto a graveyard, so no worries about future development!

@user1474894224 - the tiny garden is the front one - there is no back one. I'd say it would be big enough for a paddling pool but not a climbing frame.

Neither of us like know the first thing about gardening, so if it was just going to be us we would probably go for a small garden.

Thanks for all the opinions - I think we're probably going to wait for now and see what else comes up.

That sounds like the best option. I know that feeling of wanting to find somewhere great here and now, but it sounds like neither of these houses is quite right for you.

I'm glad that you thought better of it. That size garden at the front would have been quickly taken up by the bins and if you motorbike or cycle, it would be chained up there. Besides, do you really want random strangers seeing your child in almost nothing playing in a paddling pool almost on the road?

I would go got for the house you love with the smaller garden. You can always get a folding garden table and swing for your child. Good luck with the IVF and the move!

Ps. You could get one of those very high washing lines if you needed.

I have lived on my estate for 15 years and absolutely love my Close. Loved it that much that we moved within it from a 2 bedroom house with a tiny garden to a 3 bedroom house with a huge garden ( approx 90ft long and 30ft wide.

It is bloody hard work to maintain and we have loads of stuff out there, a playframe, a slide, seesaw, Wendy house etc and dd(8) hardly uses it. Ds is 16 so not interested.

I honestly thought it would make a huge difference to our lives. I'm going against what I have always said though and getting a trampoline this summer to encourage dd to be more active. There are other children in the Close but hardly anyone plays out.

Go with your gut instinct op :)

at buying a house overlooking a grave yard! I think that bothers me more than the small 2x3 size.

We have a 5 x 8m garden and to be honest I can't imagine smaller than that.

My in laws have a tiny front patio and no backgarden.

My in laws have a tiny patio at the front around 2x3 and no back garden. I can't leave the kids there playing on their own as I'm too worried they will wonder off.

I don't get this thing of children 'growing out of gardens'. Seems like one of those weird MN myths. In the real world gardens are for everyone - young and old. Otherwise the panel of GQT would be full of babbling toddlers offering their best tips on horticulture!

We have 2 kids and a tiny garden. works well, you would need a park to ride a bike or scooter in anyway, so from about 2-3 years ip gardens are pretty much unused anyway .
I have friends with enormous gardens - kids don’t play in them, they want to play football, ride bikes and scooter!

Thanks @Mumbaikar

Haha @roses2 - at least the neighbours will be quiet!

I agree Ruffle
Its sounds like people trying to convince themselves a non existant garden is better.

OP go for the garden, they will play in it and so nice to have lots of outside space.

Weve a small garden for dd but sounds like bigger than what you looking out, sadly it was that or nothing. Id go the biggest garden you can with children as makes life easier for you. My dsis just opens the back door and her dc play for hours outside

I would keep looking OP. Don't go for either if they're not right.