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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to buy a house with terrible parking?

309 replies

Seaandsand83 · 13/01/2020 12:37

We currently live in a 2 bed terraced and have found a fantastic 4 bed semi with big beautiful rooms, well within our price range. We'd have enough money to build an extension on the back for a really spacious Kitchen diner. However, the parking situation is terrible. There is only parking on one side of the road and it is always full. There are a few spaces about a 1 or 2 min walk way, round the corner. I know that doesn't sound far but if I have done a food shop it would mean a few trips back and forth

We are in a position to put an offer on but AIBU to buy a house which is perfect for us but with such bad parking?

OP posts:
cakeandchampagne · 13/01/2020 12:53

The bad parking situation will get old quickly. Look for another house.

5foot5 · 13/01/2020 12:53

We could never afford a house like this if it was anywhere else in our town,

I guess you know why it is so cheap!

skiptheskip · 13/01/2020 12:54

The house is cheap for a reason!

Ignore those saying go for it, they did it and it was fine - misery loves company Grin

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 13/01/2020 12:55

And there's nowhere for you to put a parking space around the house?
I honestly wouldn't do it.

I did buy a house like that because there was an arrangement with the business next door that I could use a space in their carpark - and that was fine until the business changed hands, and the new guy was a dick. He allowed me to park there for a bit, then started to charge me, then we had a few issues with skips and me being blocked in (the carpark wasn't full, by the way, I wasn't occupying valuable customer space) and finally he did some "in-fill" building of "sheds" that clearly had accommodation over them. By then, I'd had to flatten my front garden completely, brick it over and make it hardstanding so that I could park my car in front of my house, but boy it was a tight fit! I didn't need a dropped kerb because I used the driveway right next to the house, that went down to the carpark, to get onto the space. But when I had lodgers, they had to do the best they could to find a parking space and our road was also one side parking only. Sometimes it was a few minutes' walk away, not very convenient.

But at least I had the option to flatten my front garden, and even if it wasn't very big, I could get one medium sized car on there. If you don't have that option I'm not sure it would be worth it - SUCH a pain.

Tyersal · 13/01/2020 12:56

My house has terrible parking, I moved to it from a 3 car drive. I'm completely used to it and it doesn't bother me.

If we are unloading we block the road or someone in for a min, unload then park elsewhere. Everyone is in the same boat so no one minds

everyonesafluffyone · 13/01/2020 12:56

If you buy the property with your eyes wide open, knowing that you will not be able to park outside and are happy with that, then go ahead. If you know that over time it will piss you off, then don't do it.

My friend bought a house with no parking outside because it was all they could afford at the time, and she hates it now a few years later, all she wants is a house with parking.

Roundtoedshoes · 13/01/2020 12:58

I’d avoid it personally. I chose a smaller property with a drive and have never regretted it as I can always park outside my front door and have plenty of visitor parking (not that I encourage that!)

Disfordarkchocolate · 13/01/2020 12:59

It gets very annoying after a while. We lived in flats with no parking for over 4.5 years, the first flat had parking a couple of minutes away. It was bloody annoying but we had no option to rent anywhere else. Every load of shopping, every rainy day, every heavy item, visitors, deliveries, removing garden waste, etc.... Never again.

misscockerspaniel · 13/01/2020 13:00

It would drive you bonkers.

Waveysnail · 13/01/2020 13:00

We went for less desirable house with a drive. I grew up in terrace with on street parking. Fine when kids are older or with one baby but wouldnt want to do it with multiple children

Hustssleeping · 13/01/2020 13:01

How much do you use your car? Is there good public transport? When would it be inconvenient to be 1-2mins walk away?
Yes it would be a pain but you could plan for it. If you never expect to get a space outside, get a trolley, use public transport instead etc then it would just become the norm for you without being an inconvenience.
For guests maybe.
My DSis has a house like that. They are looking to move but they drive everywhere...

Original poster
Seaandsand83 · 13/01/2020 13:01

There is no space to build a drive unfortunately. We have 2 cars but only use one daily. It's such a big decision! I feel like maybe I raced in with my heart and now my head is coming into play.

OP posts:
TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 13/01/2020 13:01

It’s a big no from me

Something that would annoy/worry/stress you daily

Emmelina · 13/01/2020 13:01

I wouldn’t. We’re a 2 car household by necessity and trying to find 2 spaces close enough to our house would tire quickly. We did it renting for a couple of years but wouldn’t make a long term commitment to crap parking by buying!

Cosmos45 · 13/01/2020 13:02

I nearly bought a house before I bought the one I am now in. It had parking across the road (which was a busy A road) in a small unofficial layby. I tried to convince myself it would work because I really fell in love with the house. Now I look back on it I realise what a nightmare it would have been, especially when I arrive home with the dog, handbag, shopping etc and imagine trying to cross a relatively busy road in rush hour and unload shopping etc. Another house I looked at seemed to be a similar to the one you describe now and again looking back I can see it would have been a nightmare, not just for us but for guests as well. I ended up buying a house with a drive big enough to park about 5 cars and a memorial hall opposite with extra parking if needed. I do however live quite rurally and everyone arrives here by car. Personally I wouldn't do it as the daily grind of it will eventually take its toll and you will become resentful and then the house also will be difficult to sell on.

MaggieFS · 13/01/2020 13:04

I wouldn't. Parking was impossible at my previous flat and it got to the point where it took over my life. I found I was leaving work early to get home early enough to get parked. I stopped supermarket shopping on the way home. I stopped going out in the evenings. Just because trying to get parked got so tiresome.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 13/01/2020 13:04

It’s a tricky one. Our first house was dreadful for parking and I hated it but it was during the baby and toddler years (trying to wrangle a baby in a car seat, plus toddler, plus shopping etc down the road was far from fun.) It was a massive relief to move to a house with a driveway, and several years later the novelty still hasn’t worn off!

Do you have young Dc?

Kazzyhoward · 13/01/2020 13:05

That's why you can afford it! No one else wants it either for the same reasons, hence it being cheap in the hope of a sale.

ChipsRoastOrBoiled · 13/01/2020 13:06

I would never buy a property without it's own parking, not even a flat with a dedicated space if I couldn't enforce it (bad past experience). Imagine walking that distance in the rain, wind, snow or ice with heavy shopping bags etc. I'm disabled so it would be impossible, but even if I weren't, I know I would still find it stressful. I'd probably end up resenting it.

WhatsInAName19 · 13/01/2020 13:07

Bear in mind that this will be an issue if/when you come to sell. Lots of people just wont consider a house of that size without a driveway, let alone without decent on-street parking.

Gruffalosandbuffalos · 13/01/2020 13:07

Do you have children or plan to have them in the future? I would find it annoying getting a toddler and baby to the car and back but if it was just me to worry about then it wouldn’t bother me.

MadMadMad · 13/01/2020 13:08

Absolutely not for us, round here most people have drives (we do) but some don't and trying to get a space on the street is a nightmare. we can get one extra car on our drive but if we have two visitors at the same time it can be awful and we often watch for a space and then pop one of our cars in it so that there are two spaces on our drive.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 13/01/2020 13:10

We could never afford a house like this if it was anywhere else in our town, it really is a lot of house for your money. But is it worth it for daily parking issues

That's why you can afford it.

Don't do it. You will resent it far quicker than you think, for as long as you live there. And then you will have trouble selling for the same reason.

CopperAndGold · 13/01/2020 13:10

The house may be hard to sell later too, if it's not your last house. Other people will have the same concerns.

Has it been on the market long?

CarlaH · 13/01/2020 13:10

I would never buy a house without off street parking for at least one car.

It's not only parking for yourselves, but workmen, deliveries etc.

I am often asked when trying to arrange for work to be done whether there is anywhere for them to park. I can say yes but I have no idea what they say if you reply no.

Also future parking restrictions. You might be able to park in your road now but that might change. Councils are becoming ever more draconian.