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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

safariboot · 13/01/2020 15:23

An argument against: with plans to phase out fossil fuel cars, the value of off-street - and therefore the price hit when buying or selling a home without it - is likely to increase since it's so useful if you have an EV. It's less of an issue for a 2-up 2-down where parking isn't really expected, but for a big 4-bed, I think in future no parking is going to put buyers off more and more.

If there are no loading restrictions and you can stop to unload without causing an obstruction then shopping is less of an issue.

Is it feasibly to convert a downstairs room into a garage? (This shouldn't require planning permission, though you should check). I might consider buying if it was.

nearlynermal · 13/01/2020 15:36

Think your way through the implications of things like building and renovations. Will builders have enough access, where would a skip go etc.

I bought a rental property, great location but on a main road with no parking, and wish I could travel back in time and not do it!

SciFiScream · 13/01/2020 15:45

I had a crazy idea! Why don't you deliberately, for the next few days/a couple of weeks, park further away from where you live now?

Try and replicate the distance/time and see how much it annoys you/if it annoys you. Then you'll know for sure!

LeSquigh · 13/01/2020 15:48

I don’t own, I rent, but have lived here for 5 years and we have terrible parking. There is no parking at all in our road, it’s all double yellows. We both have a car and there is a small amount of parking behind where we live but we normally have to park in different streets. We wouldn’t buy a house here for that reason. It’s a massive pain in the arse. It was much more of a pain in the arse whilst we had a baby in a car seat. You couldn’t carry shopping and that and everything had to be planned around the no parking situation. If you don’t have small kids and don’t mind too much about a little walk then may not such an issue for you.

AlmaMartyr · 13/01/2020 15:50

I wouldn't buy a house with no parking of its own. I've dealt with parking issues through work and there's no way I could face dealing with parking problems every day. It's risky to rely on on-street parking. If the road ends up with parking restrictions, there's not much you can do to prevent that. The only way I would do it is if there was plentiful on-street parking and I could be sure there was no chance that the road was likely to change.

ittakes2 · 13/01/2020 15:54

It depends on who you are ie do you mind walking this distance to your car? Food shop is not an issue if you get home delivery as its the driver of the van which will be walking this distance with a trolley.

catmoonstar · 13/01/2020 16:03

I managed ok in my last place with no parking outside. I was there for 11 years so it was normal for me. I did find it hard work carrying a baby and shopping from the car but it didn't make me hate where I lived.

But, I love that I have a parking space right outside my front door in my new place. It does make life easier. I suppose if you are used to having good parking it might be difficult to adjust to difficult parking.

Thankgoodness1 · 13/01/2020 16:09

Don’t do it. Please

Hagbeth · 13/01/2020 16:11

I would never buy a house without parking. It will be an issue both for yourself and if you like to sell it on one day.

SheShriekedShrilly · 13/01/2020 16:16

IME, for using the car once or twice a week, it’s a bit annoying with non-walking babies / toddlers but not a biggie overall. Get shopping and other heavy stuff delivered.

If I was using the car everyday, or multiple times a day, then it would have mattered. But the lack of parking was partly because it was a house very near a station, and multiple bus routes - so I rarely needed to use the car.

Cohle · 13/01/2020 16:19

Parking is an issue on our street and it doesn't bother me.

Surely if you make your peace with parking a few minutes away it's no worse than walking home from the bus stop every night. Loads of people cope without a car at all.

I just have large shops delivered. Sainsbury's etc happily double park to unload.

Realistically, I think the idea of a normal family having 2/3 cars will end pretty soon.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 13/01/2020 16:20

you'll grow to resent the parking situation so much that you'll start to hate the house

As so often, the first post nails it - and that's without the nastiness which may be swirling round the neighbours if others are in a similar position

Ttcbabybennett · 13/01/2020 16:27

We’ve just moved from a terraced with awful parking to a bungalow with a drive. Dh was keen for a drive to be a priority, I wasn’t that bothered, but now we’re moved I’m so glad we got a drive, it makes such a difference even to the mood we’re in when we come in the house and not having to loan and rant about CF parking and braving the wind and rain to walk up to the house! Don’t do it! The perfect house will come!

Moanranger · 13/01/2020 16:29

Sea and sand Don’t do it! I lived in London 20+ years, and the parking was actually slightly less bad than what you describe, but still awful. Stand up rows with neighbours. Life ENTIRELY focussed on whether you can find a parking space or not. Not leaving house because you might lose your space. The list goes on.
After I left, my No 1 priority was parking & a garage. I can park 5 cars in my drive AND I have a garage. I feel like I have died and gone to heaven.
With two school age children, you need at least one guaranteed spot so you can zip around. Otherwise, you will lose your mind, and I mean that!
Make a list of what you must have in a property and stick to it. You will find it. I found mine in a year, but worth it.

DorisDances · 13/01/2020 16:33

One reason we moved was busy on street parking. Nightmare and soured neighbourly relations. I wouldn't ever do it.

IScreamForIceCreams · 13/01/2020 16:37

Nah, it will bug you every day.

eatyourcake · 13/01/2020 16:39

Just no. We have street parking only, and it was a nightmare during the 3 year refurbishment we undertook, every large delivery and tradesmen in vans struggling to park, blocking the road unloading, we often had to be the ones to reserve spots with traffic cones (which some people just ignore and move them, so I had to be the curtain twitcher monitoring the space for days on end!). And of course not fun coming home a little later than usual with shopping and having to drive around other streets looking for a spot. I dream of a driveway for our next home.

Womenwotlunch · 13/01/2020 16:40

I wouldn’t buy it tbh

TartanMarbled · 13/01/2020 16:44

Buy it and get your shopping delivered.

eatyourcake · 13/01/2020 16:47

At some point we had a camper van and after some time managed to park it in front of our house (neighbours weren't happy with this addition to the street). Husband refused to drive it to IKEA to buy something large, in case he lost the spot. Instead we had to hire a van [eyeroll]

Catscakeandchocolate · 13/01/2020 16:52

Don't do it. We moved from our last house because of the parking issue. It was a great house,wonderful neighbours, fantastic location but the parking drove us to distraction.

SD1978 · 13/01/2020 16:54

I couldn't: I'd rather compromise on many aspects of a house other than parking. The th ought of having to walk in all weathers and times, with shopping, potentially with children, nope, no thanks. Any chance at all of being able to knock in to the garden and making any parking?

Original poster

Seaandsand83 · 13/01/2020 17:19

I think you are all right 😔 the town I live in is on a big hill and this house is right at the bottom, lovely sea views straight out of all the front windows with no buildings in the way. However the children's school, my work and any shops are then up a very long steep hill, which makes swapping the car for bikes to commute everyday less enticing.

Going for a viewing again tomorrow so will keep you posted but I think you've all helped me see the reality of living on a road like that.

OP posts:

Sparklycrystals · 13/01/2020 17:21

I did, and honestly I just got used to it after a while and factored in the fact that I’d probably have to park a few mins walk away into everything. It was a bit annoying at times if I had a lot to carry (then had dd as well) but on balance the pros out-weighed the lack of parking and I’m really glad I bought it. I let it out recently and moved elsewhere and it let really easily too so it’s not the worst thing in the world in my opinion !

2beautifulbabs · 13/01/2020 17:23

Don't we are currently looking to move we have a three bedroom terrace and the parking has driven us mad it's just stress we don't want anymore at first it wasn't bad when it was just the two of us but since having DCs it's a nightmare so our next house needs a drive way or private parking at least

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