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AIBU?

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Original poster

To Ask Why People Buy Bungalows ....

308 replies

Speakuptomakeyourselfheard · 15/10/2021 20:48

only to build up into the roof, making it nigh on impossible to buy a single storey building for those of us that are disabled and struggle with stairs. You see it so often, a nice little bungalow goes on the market and within a few months the builders are in lifting the roof off, or building into it. If you want a house, then buy a bloody house, and leave the bungalows for those that need them, and no, stair lifts are NOT the answer!

OP posts:
proudwomansexmatters · 15/10/2021 21:24

Local authorities actually have a lot of bungalow housing stock. Those who are disabled and need a bungalow should apply because they will be given banding based on need. Lots are 1 bed but there are plenty 2 bed too.

Yes, many might not be in the area of your first choice but if it's needed for your needs then that's surely more important and places do come up all the time.

MrzClaus · 15/10/2021 21:25

This is a rather strange idea - you can't just protect one house type for a subset of society. Unfortunately it's the way of the world - you'd end up with houses sitting on the market and no one to buy them if there was low demand.

I think it's a good idea though - bungalows often have large gardens and drives, and are suitable for extending upwards, whereas with regular houses expansion is normally limited to sideways which is hard when space is limited. We've kept our eye out for this type of property for our next move. It makes financial sense for us, and I'm not sure why we shouldn't be able to do something to benefit our future, on the off chance that someone else we'd be bidding against 'needed' that style of property.

Aderyn21 · 15/10/2021 21:26

No one is treating you with disdain. We just don't think we owe it to you not to do what we want with our own houses.
I do agree that there ought to be provision for the elderly and disabled, and the government should provide councils and housing associations to build single story homes and keep them for those who cannot manage stairs. I think that would be a fair use of taxation. But you can't expect the public, in general to not use their own resources to best look after their own families needs - they could equally say to you that if you want something which is unavailable, then buy a plot of a land and do a self build.

rrhuth · 15/10/2021 21:26

This thread is very odd, there is a totally crazy/dysfunctional housing market in the UK, this is not the fault of indovidual purchasers. People buy homes and extend them because they need to live in them.

I completely agree that there should be more homes built, and can accept that we may need more bungalows. I would also be perfectly happy with a scheme like the over-50s houses for people with disabilities.

But it is not 'selfish' to buy any home on the open market, even if someone else may be struggling to find the type of home they want, because the open market is what we have.

You can't ask individuals to correct a dysfunctional system.

adrianmolesmole · 15/10/2021 21:28

You don't have to live in the upstairs portion, the attic/loft will still be there regardless so what difference does it make if it's converted or left as a loft? you could live downstairs and use the loft for storage only, if anything it may possibly be easier to use a converted loft space with stairs rather than having to use a loft ladder.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/10/2021 21:28

It's funny because my elderly exFIL still lives in his converted bungalow from 40 years ago. He's just on the ground floor now.

So he was an entitled arsehole but now he's not?

proudwomansexmatters · 15/10/2021 21:29

@Aderyn21

No one is treating you with disdain. We just don't think we owe it to you not to do what we want with our own houses. I do agree that there ought to be provision for the elderly and disabled, and the government should provide councils and housing associations to build single story homes and keep them for those who cannot manage stairs. I think that would be a fair use of taxation. But you can't expect the public, in general to not use their own resources to best look after their own families needs - they could equally say to you that if you want something which is unavailable, then buy a plot of a land and do a self build.
They do. Local authority and housing association stock for bungalows and ground floor flats are already allocated based on need and those who have a mobility issue will be given a priority banding for those types of properties.

Unfortunately where you have someone who is a home owner they often don't know this, or don't want to live in a council bungalow. So they choose not to apply.

proudwomansexmatters · 15/10/2021 21:30

@MrsTerryPratchett

It's funny because my elderly exFIL still lives in his converted bungalow from 40 years ago. He's just on the ground floor now.

So he was an entitled arsehole but now he's not?

Grin
Speakuptomakeyourselfheard · 15/10/2021 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

BoredZelda · 15/10/2021 21:30

By buying a bungalow there's always the possibility of extending it by building into the roof.

So buy a house.

BoredZelda · 15/10/2021 21:30

LOL It seems that none of you able bodied folk are entitled then? Not much! You're all campaigning on here for your right to do whatever you want, but you'd sooner that people like me don't have any rights!! I hope that you all struggle like mad when you're old and can't get upstairs, as then, and only then, will you really put yourself in my shoes.

👏👏👏

user1471462428 · 15/10/2021 21:31

I have a degenerative neurological illness and I’m planning to go into a ground floor flat. How can you manage a garden if you can walk upstairs?

pregnantncnc · 15/10/2021 21:31

There should be more strict planning rules re converting bungalows. I completely agree with you. I don't think you can stop able-bodied people buying a bungalow if they want one, but you should absolutely be able to stop them from converting it into a bloody house. AND more bungalows should be included in the new housing developments.

I personally LOVE the layout of some of the bungalows local to us; it'd work really well for our family and how we generally use our space compared to most of our local houses - but we won't be buying one because they're also a lot more expensive than a comparably sized house in our area.

MiloAndEddie · 15/10/2021 21:31

Also, out of interest, why isn’t a stair lift an option?

mirijones · 15/10/2021 21:32

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

LOL It seems that none of you able bodied folk are entitled then? Not much! You're all campaigning on here for your right to do whatever you want, but you'd sooner that people like me don't have any rights!! I hope that you all struggle like mad when you're old and can't get upstairs, as then, and only then, will you really put yourself in my shoes.
Have a cup of tea and calm the fuck down.
Aderyn21 · 15/10/2021 21:32

You do have rights though. You have the right to do a self build. Or to apply to the council/HA for a bungalow. Or to move to a place where there are bungalows for sale.

Jigsawprison · 15/10/2021 21:33

Yanbu, I couldn't buy a bungalow in my budget so ended up buying a house and building a bedroom downstairs and my teenagers live upstairs. It's not perfect as I end up having to text upstairs to get their attention as I can't get up. Literally a third of my home is off limits to me. The bungalows on the market when I was looking to buy had all been converted into expensive (because they were a bungalow) 'houses'.

pregnantncnc · 15/10/2021 21:34

@adrianmolesmole

You don't have to live in the upstairs portion, the attic/loft will still be there regardless so what difference does it make if it's converted or left as a loft? you could live downstairs and use the loft for storage only, if anything it may possibly be easier to use a converted loft space with stairs rather than having to use a loft ladder.
The difference is that when you buy the now converted bungalow, it will be more expensive than a bungalow which hasn't been converted (because it will have more liveable space, which makes total sense - but if you want a BUNGALOW it must be incredibly frustrating).
KirstenBlest · 15/10/2021 21:34

Big footprint and on a big plot.

Not many are built as they are expensive to build, and therefore are in demand

Are often in areas popular with retired people e.g. coastal towns

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/10/2021 21:35

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

LOL It seems that none of you able bodied folk are entitled then? Not much! You're all campaigning on here for your right to do whatever you want, but you'd sooner that people like me don't have any rights!! I hope that you all struggle like mad when you're old and can't get upstairs, as then, and only then, will you really put yourself in my shoes.
I'll live in a flat. Like I have for a great deal of my life. No one is owed a detached house. In fact in terms of the environment and resources, bungalows are pretty shit.

Housing is in short supply for everyone and it's a necessity for everyone. By all means rail at the housing crisis. But don't punch sideways.

ilovesooty · 15/10/2021 21:35

You can't insist that people don't adapt their houses as they wish and tell them that they can only sell to the elderly and people with disabilities.

I'm sure that most people buying properties have paid taxes all their working lives too.

DontWiltMySpinachPlease · 15/10/2021 21:36

It had a massive garden. I wanted a massive garden.

KirstenBlest · 15/10/2021 21:37

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard, it would be good if there was some legislation that a certain percentage of new builds should be wheelchair-friendly

Titsywoo · 15/10/2021 21:37

We bought a bungalow and added a loft conversion. It was the only house we could find in the area in our budget with room to extend. We do still have the main bedroom (mine and DHs) downstairs in it's own mini annex (has it's own hallway and bathroom - not ensuite) and we have hugely extended the kitchen and lounge and main hallway so it is actually far more accessible now (it was all narrow corridors and small rooms before). The teens are upstairs - 2 bedrooms and a shower room. Personally I think the house is far better than it was even if a disabled person buys it after us.

frumpety · 15/10/2021 21:39

A lot depends on where you are looking and how much you want to spend, Lincolnshire is bungalow county !