Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you over invest in a house because you love the neighbours and area?

49 replies

sweettoothbaby · 26/06/2021 20:56

I've lived in this rental for nearly three years. Landlord lives abroad and has said that he would considerer selling to me in a couple of years. In a couple of years I would be able to buy it. He bought it for a fifth of what its worth now.

Its in a semi rural area, very quiet. Very old small village, cobbled streets and ancient pubs and church. My garden backs on to a lovely canal, I love the smells and wild life, I love that I can get on a canoe with my kids from my back gate. My neighbours are very friendly (despite us being the only young family on our little culdesac) Fantastic motor way links with in five mins to either end on the uk and a great town centre.

Its just really nice and I feel safe after H and I split up.

However - I hate living in a town house. I hate having a bedroom and utility room room down stairs. I hate that I have to run up two flights of stairs having to sort the kids out every morning.I hate that the house is high rather than having width. To get it how I want id have to lose my garage, down stairs bedroom, downstairs toilet, utility room to turn it in to open plan. Then turn the now living room room (first floor) in to my bedroom and the kitchen which is on this level in to a bath room or another bedroom. The top floor would stay the same. This is going to cost a lot.

Going off a house up for sale across the road this house would go for 550,000

What do you think? My ex thinks im mental

OP posts:
Powertothepetal · 26/06/2021 21:15

Do it!

BackforGood · 26/06/2021 21:20

I think location is invaluable. The fact you have lovely neighbours is huge.

I'm not convinced it is worth doing all that work on it though. There is always a limit to how much value changes can add to a house, and a lot of people don't like open plan.

Sparklesocks · 26/06/2021 21:50

A house is worth what you want to pay for it. If you think it’s worth it - do it!

30degreesandmeltinghere · 26/06/2021 21:51

We live in a rented town house. Does my head in up /down but my mh is great as we love the size and location...

DinosaurDiana · 26/06/2021 21:51

Neighbours will change and you might not like the new ones.
The location will never change so go for it if you love it.

negomi90 · 26/06/2021 21:55

Not if you're renting. The landlord can change his mind or your finances could change. Do not spend a load of money doing up a house which you have no legal claim to. That's idiocy. If something happens and you have to move, you have no legal claim and have spent lots of money (which could be a deposit on a different house) which you won't get back in anyway shape or form.
A sneaky landlord would say what yours said, encourage you do to do it up at no expense to them, then sell it on so they get extra profit.

GreyhoundG1rl · 26/06/2021 21:56

Area, maybe. The neighbours don't come with the property; they could sell up tomorrow, just like the vendors are doing.

Original poster
sweettoothbaby · 26/06/2021 21:58

I think I let my ex get in my head a bit. This isn't what I imagined my 'forever house' to be to be but it weird I just feel at peace here. Its just an arse ache the lay out and the bloody mossies in summer (now)

Its weird isn't it how a location or house can effect you. We were only supposed to be here for a year.

OP posts:
waddleandtoddle · 26/06/2021 22:03

Can you extend on the back? I am in a town house and the set up you are looking to achieve has been done to mine, but instead of getting rid of the downstairs loo and garage a full width extension has been built in to the garden to get an open plan room.

nzborn · 26/06/2021 22:05

Absolutely good neighbors are priceless.

Sparklesocks · 26/06/2021 22:06

It might still be helpful to keep an eye on the market and see what else is out there for similar costs - I know you love that particular house and street, but you never know if there’s something you could love equally (or more) until you look.

We had the same rented place for 5 years and similarly to you it was looking like we had the option to buy it from our landlords. I loved it, it was a lovely little house tucked away in a private street near the station and shops etc. But we started looking when we were in a position to buy and found our current place which was so much nicer in other ways. Like any property there were a couple of compromises, but overall it was wonderful. And then when I had a comparison I started to notice things about the rental I didn’t like - the thin walls were actually a pain when the elderly lady next door moved out and a young couple moved in, the oak tree overlooking the drive was gorgeous but god weren’t the fallen leaves annoying at autumn, the bathroom didn’t have windows and it was a battle to keep the mould away etc…all things we initial just put up with but seemed like dealbreakers once we started viewing. So you never know how you might feel!

Deathsquito · 26/06/2021 22:10

If I’m reading this correctly (and apologies if I’m not op) you only rent this property? You don’t actually own it, you just gave some vague idea of buying it off your landlord in a few years?

And you want to spend around 50k on it now? A house you have no legal claim to at all?

That is completely insane I’m convinced I must have misread this somehow, because I can see some people saying ‘go for it’. And as no sane person would say/do that in this situation I’m quite confused?

bigbaggyeyes · 26/06/2021 22:12

Location location location as the saying goes.

If it's going to be your forever home and you can afford it then who cares what you do with it. It doesn't matter, it's not an investment.

I've lived in a perfect house in abs shifty area and it was hell, but I've lived in a crappy house in a lovely location. I'd take the latter everytime

BecauseMyRingBurnsSheila · 26/06/2021 22:18

We were in a similar situation to you. Looked for somewhere better but the unique extras (like the canal) of my existing house just won me over when I thought about moving to one which on paper 'should' be better but wasn't better for me.

So I spent the money on converting what I had into what I wanted and absolutely love it now! The costs were much less than moving, but weren't insubstantial. Has given us many more years here and increased the value by way more than the costs because someone else will want to live here like this too (eventually). Do it!

Original poster
sweettoothbaby · 26/06/2021 22:26

@waddleandtoddle

Can you extend on the back? I am in a town house and the set up you are looking to achieve has been done to mine, but instead of getting rid of the downstairs loo and garage a full width extension has been built in to the garden to get an open plan room.
I can and it part of the plan. The garage is big and probably takes up 2/3s of the left hand side of down stairs so if I didn't lose it it would look odd.

Extension would have to be minimal to not piss off next door as it would block early day light, we tend to have a long afternoon in the back.

OP posts:
Original poster
sweettoothbaby · 26/06/2021 22:29

@nzborn

Absolutely good neighbors are priceless.
I agree. Bar one in the entire row that won't even look at me Grin

but otherwise its a win

OP posts:
78percentLindt · 26/06/2021 22:34

You are planning on the changes after you have bought it in X years time aren't you? If not, you can't revamp the house structurally while renting, certainly not without the LL's permission. Losing the garage could devalue it, and as PP have said many people can't stand open plan. Can't see he would agree. And if he didnt sell it to you, you would have spent the money for no lasting benefit.
PP is right about LL letting you improve his property at your expense. I went to view a house with a friend where the couple living there had been told it was a long term let, so had put in a new bathroom and done a lot of work in the kitchen, 6 months later, the LL decided to sell, so they were several thousand quid down.
I'm with your Ex.

BackforGood · 26/06/2021 22:40

@negomi90 and @Deathsquito

OP is obvioiusly saying she would want to make the alterations once she has bought it. Of course she wouldn't / couldn't do that sort of work on a house she doesn't own.

Smidge001 · 26/06/2021 22:59

@sweettoothbaby I'm totally assuming you'd only make the changes AFTER you've bought it, but I think several pps are saying you're unreasonable coz they think you're planning to renovate whilst still renting!
Can you please clarify? I think your voting stats won't be representative...

NautaOcts · 26/06/2021 23:07

As long as you’re talking about after you have bought it….
Do not spend anything significant on it now just on your landlords word he will sell it to you! But I’m sure you mean doing the work after you’ve bought it and potentially not getting ‘back’ what you spend on the work - but I think that’s ok if it’s a long term home and you love everything else about it

Deathsquito · 27/06/2021 06:07

That would definitely make far more sense. But the op seems to have deliberately ignored any negative posts and only replied to those telling her to go for it.

Maybe she just didn’t bother, but why wouldn’t you just say ‘silly posters, of course I meant in years, AFTER I’ve bought the house’’.

And her ex has described it as ‘mental’. Can’t see why he would (unless he’s just a dick) say that just for op thinking of renovation AFTER she’s bought the house.

Guavafish · 27/06/2021 06:20

Save your money and look to buying a house in the same area.

I agree with others that the landlord might change their mind

Nicecupofteaandacake · 27/06/2021 06:28

I can totally relate. We moved into our rental 7 years ago because there wasn’t much available at the time. We’d discounted it from the pictures numerous times, but came to look at it when nothing else was suitable.

As soon as I walked through the door I knew I was “home” - we took it the same day. I’ve always adored living here. We have amazing neighbours, and we all get on well. We back onto a woodland, great garden and so much potential in the house.

We would love to buy it, but won’t be in a position to for a good while - we’re just hoping all the stars align when the time comes for the landlord to sell.

I wouldn’t do any of your proposed changes prior to you buying however, that is madness!

Dutch1e · 27/06/2021 06:36

I'd absolutely do it, and perhaps not even make any layout changes. Kids grow into teens and a downstairs 'basement' kind of bedroom can be ideal for an older one, if you'd feel ok about a bedroom swap at some point, or converting the garage into studio space.

(As an aside, I read your post as changes happening after buying. "I'd have to..." seems more speculative than "I'm going to...")

Mypathtriedtokillme · 27/06/2021 06:42

If you can extend or use the garage space to create a lounge then I would but keep the downstairs bedroom if it’s your forever house.
That way when your old and decrepit, you can just live on the ground floor without stairs.

Swipe left for the next trending thread