What type of housing would you not want to live?

[WomenHour]

House , Flat Penthouse , Caravan etc

I would probably not want to live on the top floor of a massive block of flats, couldn't be bothered.

I suspect the aversion to tower block living in the UK is tied to nothing more than council house snobbery

Snobbery is, I'm sure, sometimes an issue, but I think there are other real concerns about feeling safe and secure. Not just because of Grenfell, but, for example I have known two women assaulted in tower block lifts or stairwells, so would want to be very sure that security was very good. I also have vertigo and can't go near the windows in high rise buildings. I like the idea of low rise flats though and was happy enough when I've previously lived in them.

For me, it would be anywhere isolated in the country with no neighbours around. I also don’t like new build flats/houses because you can hear everything. My favourite home so far has been a 1970s link house.

Anything with low artexed ceilings... DH complained every time he took his jumper off because he kept scuffing his knuckles. He learned to sit on the bed eventually. Or thatch.

I've experienced living in most sorts of accommodation in 60+ years, although I don't remember the caravan. Boats, flats --low and high rise, terraced, semi-detached, bungalow.

You choose what you like best and can afford at the time.

Penthouse or other flat high up in a high-rise. Terraced house unless end of row.

Do you people who sleep with first floor windows open and think it's a lot safer than a bungalow not realise that climbing up 10' or so is no real biggie to your average skinny teenage opportunistic burglar?

Err, I live in the penthouse of a massive tower block. Unless Spider-Man turns to crime I think I’m pretty safe.

Fantasy would be a lovely suite in a 5* plus hotel set in beautiful grounds. Suite would have to have a balcony and hotel would need to have a decent-sized pool plus sauna and spa treatments as well as a good gym.

I have to say noise is a major issue for me. I lived in a Victorian house once and the sound proofing was non existent. My current flat, my neighbours can blast music at top volume and I can hear it in the hallway but not inside my flat.

Agree that the Victorian terraces are the worst. Narrow, dingy, limiting, often single brick so noise is a problem, parking issues, damp.

I thought it looked nice and was characterful. Maybe, but there are many drawbacks.

Also agree that new build flats can be amazing in terms of soundproofing. I don't hear my neighbours unless I'm outside and they've got their windows open.

@rainwaterflow

Do you people who sleep with first floor windows open and think it's a lot safer than a bungalow not realise that climbing up 10' or so is no real biggie to your average skinny teenage opportunistic burglar?

Err, I live in the penthouse of a massive tower block. Unless Spider-Man turns to crime I think I’m pretty safe.

You don't sleep on the first floor, then, do you?

Then who was your comment aimed at, considering no one except me has posted about sleeping with windows open and your comment was directly after mine?

At present, I'm living in a block of 4, 3 of which are council. I'm the private tenant. I would not want to live in a council managed property again. Downstairs A is seriously mentally unstable and I've lost count of the number of times, we've had police and ambulance attendance. He smokes like a chimney. Downstairs B I'm pretty sure is being illegally sub-let. Upstairs across from me, we had some kind of law enforcement in attendance at 7am today.

Marmunia1975

Forgot to add, I only do new builds as the thought of using someone else’s toilet....

You can buy a new suite

you can clean it

I posted a similar comment about leaving windows open. The burglary stats in my area show that the main points of entry in occupied houses are downstairs windows and doors with just yale locks. Yes burglars do sometimes climb up drainpipes, but it's far less likely than climbing through a downstairs window, particularly if there are people in the house.

Flat. Any new build. Anything on an estate.

Nowhere that's leasehold and I'd not want to live anywhere that didn't give me some nice outdoor space.

I've also not been terribly impressed with the new builds I've viewed. They don't seem to have as much space around them and I dislike how thin some of the internal walls are.

I hate flats...doesn't matter what type, even objectively beautiful large flats in nice areas with a garden...I just cannot feel at home in them.

I could only live in a detached home, semi or a terrace wouldn’t suit me at all.

I am not that fussy. Would prefer quiet, clean, safe & nice neighbours. Rest is flexible.

Anything pre 1930’s. Also anything too big. I don’t like rooms that are very large and completely unused rooms give me the creeps.

Gosh, there's so many types of houses I would hate to live in, particularly at this age and time of life (I'm about to turn 40, with DH and 2 children under 4).

• No flats; we currently have a big garden, and would like to keep it that way

• No terraces; I'd dislike the feeling of being boxed in on both sides, plus our children make loads of noise

• No bungalows; I like living in a house with stairs, and don't like mixing living and sleeping (private) spaces

• No townhouses; I'd dislike the higgledy-piggery style of living (sometimes bedroom and garage on ground floor, some have bedroom and living area on first floor) plus I don't want to live on more than 2 floors

• No mansions; I like being able to reach most parts of my house quickly and feel safer in a property that isn't huge

DH has other ideas though, and is angling for a move to the a very large house in the middle of nowhere!

I would not want to live in an area where I was afraid to go out at night. That's more important to me than the actual property. I like people around me too.

As much as the noise of my neighbours screaming kids and screaming sex does my nut in, I couldn't live isolated in the middle of nowhere with no houses close by. You're just begging to be robbed and/or hacked to death in your sleep.

Never a flat for us. Did it for a year and had to move as neighbours upstairs just had no regard for us at all! Walking around the bedroom (directly above our bedroom) at ridiculous hours, kids rolling you cars on laminate living room floor, and a wee 3 year old who said "why are they walking up our stairs?" When we came home one day (they were shared steps that led to the building)

Such a shame as it was a lovely 3 bedroom flat in a great location!

Would love a nice house in the middle of nowhere for peace and quiet but DH doesn't drive so that's not really an option either!

Anything too big. I currently have a 3 bed flat in a converted house. Might trade it for a small 2 bed house one day. But I love small spaces and don't see the appeal of rambling big homes.

I utterly hate rear approach houses where you drive past ranks and ranks if garages they’re bleak and horrible to look at