How do people relax in huge houses?

[mrsbeeton999]

It’s probably something I’ll never need to worry about but I’ve just been looking at a bit of property porn - huge houses with indoor pool, gym, cinema room. I think I’d never be able to have a relaxing swim in the basement or shut myself in the cinema room as I’d be worried about security in the rest of the house. In my house I can pretty much see all the house from the lounge and it’s easy to check front and back door are locked. I know some people have staff but not everyone in these houses would. I don’t think I’d feel confident swimming or watching a film if I was home alone.

I have a relative with a fecking massive house (well they have 2 actually but I have only stayed on my own at one) and I’ve been there a few times on my own over the years house sitting (well really I was babysitting the menagerie and the horses). I always felt safe.
But I’m not scared of the dark, scared of noises, scared of being on my own.
I live in a very ordinary house sadly but I’d happily have an 11 bedroomed job, no security guard required!

We have security cameras, electronic gates, security lights, an electronic ‘trip wire’ and two large dogs.

This thread has made me even more sure I couldn’t live in a mahoosive house. I started off thinking I wouldn’t be confident swimming or in cinema room alone but now I’ve read everyone’s posts I know I wouldn’t even want to have a morning coffee in a big house alone

I used to live in a 4 storey terrace, as a shared house and my bedroom was at the top floor. I got used to not knowing what was going on in the rest of the house.

It's easy if one is accustomed to a bit of private space. Conversely I would feel less relaxed in a rabbit hatch micro apartment. Technology and visible private security plus built in emergency panic safe rooms etc to assist if required. Or just ask a friend to stay over for company and enjoy the dream amenities as if on a luxury staycation.

I grew up in a house like this. We had lots of security. Our house was within a gated community that had guards. Alarm system on the house was pretty much always on, every time an external door (front door, door into garden and door into garage) was opened a little noise would sound throughout the house so you knew. Terrifying if you’re home alone and not expecting anyone back. But generally you just get used to it. Oh and a dog

I'd love a house like you describe OP, especially the pool!

You know there are some advantages of being in a second floor flat.

and yes we like and eat takeaways via deliveroo! .....why wouldn’t we? 🙄

Well, because I was really referring to large houses in very rural areas. I have stayed in rural holiday homes where there have been no Tesco home deliveries as it’s been too far from the nearest store.

And definitely miles away from the nearest takeaway!

@blackeyedsusan the only time I have experienced an intruder was when I lived in a non-descript second floor flat! Someone who lived downstairs had let him in the front door . He was very high on drugs and the police said if I hadn't managed to get back into my flat I would have been in grave danger (they traced him with dogs and he was a very dangerous offender). I bolted my flat door and he was hammering on it! I locked myself in the shower till the police came.
Sorry, a miserable story but I try and tell it to make sure people are aware of the dangers of letting people into shared entrances.
I thought I would feel safer in a flat but after that I would never live in one again.

I think you get used to it very quickly!

I think flats are the worst for getting broken into, once you are in the front communal door you are hidden from view

I’ve always wondered too

But then you see these huge celebrities with security and alarms and they still get broken into

Didn’t one of the Ecclestone sisters get broken into?
I wouldn’t trust anyone tbf

I’ve never thought about it before. We live rurally one a 260m2 house. I’ve honestly never been scared. Who on earth is going to make effort to drive all the way out to the middle of nowhere to commit a crime? No criminals I know.

Damn! I typed lions first, then altered it because tigers sounded more lavish!

Ligers, that's your answer. Bigger than lions and tigers and no problems with them breeding.

Living in a big old stone 5 bed in the rural north was bad enough! Had security systems and locks etc but I was on edge all the time. I like to be able to hear what’s going on eg hear someone breaking in if I’m upstairs!

Big celebs are burgled by professional burglary gangs, not opportunists. Someone like Ecclestone, who advertises her wealth in the media and on her social media is a target because the gangs know that the potential payoff is huge and easy to take away (mostly millions of ££ of jewellery) once they get in. Same with footballers or other high profile very wealthy people who like to show off their wealth with blingy belongings (Kardashians for eg).

Your average well off person (like posters on here) aren’t that kind of wealthy or high profile and so aren’t advertising their belongings to potential burglars in the same way. Obviously ‘big but normal’ (not Elton John or Beckhams stylee) country houses get burgled but it is quite rare and isn’t done by the same people burgling big, super rich celebs.

We were burgled overnight whilst there were 2 adults, 6 kids and a dog in the house! None of us heard a thing! Was a shock in the morning!!

It would be lovely. Whole rooms away from the rest of the family!

I’m not one for feeling nervous however, especially if the house was mine. Feels different when it’s someone else’s house.

read in the local paper that a man living on my estate had been arrested masturbating in a muck spreader wearing women's lingerie
Brilliant. You couldn’t make it up. 😂 sounds like a twisted version of The Archers!

it is quite hard to generalise about break ins. Some are someone high on drugs who wants £10 or more if it is there. Others are planned professional attacks - one gang apparently fly in from Chile t burgle particularly wealthy homes in England and then fly back out ASAP before being caught.

Someone mentioned flats providing cover. One reason I don't think have been burgled as we are the most open house on this private but not gated estate so although you can see right in and not even a front gate you are watched all the time, there is crunchy gravel and at night big lights that go on even if just a fox goes by so you don't get any privacy to break a door in (and someone is just about always in and often always up too if my student sons who over summer were doing to bed at 3am very often whilst I get up from about 6am)

I never understand this strange thing about not being able to relax in a big house. Weird.

We used to live in a huge house many eons ago when I was married with small children, I loved it. It had more than one staircase, it was so big. If anyone rang up for my husband (now ex), I never knew where he was and used to have to say, hang on while I find him, it would take ages to dash around the whole place (in the days before we all had mobiles).

Sometimes the family would go to stay somewhere else and I'd be there on my own, people would ask whether I wasn't frightened at night on such a huge place. No, I never was, I always felt safe and revelled in the space I had round me. Much better than now, these days I rent a tiny flat....

There is a racial element too. Many of my friends feel they have to take more security measures because they are targeted for burglary due to their race/nationality.

One friend, second generation immigrant from the Middle East, got burgled, everything trashed very little taken except a v fancy leased car. He said he was sure they were looking for gold, jewellery, watches etc. Police agreed. Assumption made based on race and that one house targeted even though the neighbour houses either side look richer (neither's shoddy!). As it happens this family do have lots of such things but keep them elsewhere.

@TorkTorkBam

There is a racial element too. Many of my friends feel they have to take more security measures because they are targeted for burglary due to their race/nationality.

One friend, second generation immigrant from the Middle East, got burgled, everything trashed very little taken except a v fancy leased car. He said he was sure they were looking for gold, jewellery, watches etc. Police agreed. Assumption made based on race and that one house targeted even though the neighbour houses either side look richer (neither's shoddy!). As it happens this family do have lots of such things but keep them elsewhere.

It's not so much racism or racial profiling as it's simply wealth and materialism profiling. Rich gulf state citizens yes, neighbouring Yemen and Somali no. Same with profiling media celebrities who have a passion for celebrating their new money online as it does not matter if Chinese, Russian or Nigerian. It's not the colour of the money it's just money that is targeted. The is a general acceptable and acknowledgement that certain nations have higher wealth and materialistic populations and so obviously they are the ones with most opportunities for the criminals. No one is going to target a run down depressed rough neighbourhood as it's up town posh quarters where the goodies are more plentiful.

Moral of the story technology and people help (security who don't eventually lead to inside jobs!) as best to entrust your life and possessions to man's best friend. Yes a stay at home pack of high grade loyal and disciplined scary and alert guard dogs usually suffice from my experience in dealings with the higher classes and hard working wealth (and employment) business creators in country piles and palatial town houses.

@SuzieQQQ

I’ve never thought about it before. We live rurally one a 260m2 house. I’ve honestly never been scared. Who on earth is going to make effort to drive all the way out to the middle of nowhere to commit a crime? No criminals I know.

There’s plenty of rural crime but criminals typically target outbuildings for tools and farm machinery, from what I have heard - it’s easier to get at and is what farmers tend to spend their money on. Heating oil theft is a thing too