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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:
christinarossetti19 · 15/10/2021 21:54

I honestly don't think the world is such a mess because someone bought a bungalow and built into the loft.

Jasmin82 · 15/10/2021 21:56

I agree with you, OP. I'm stuck in a house that I'm struggling with that, once sold, I'll only have about 50% of whatever it sells for to buy with. In my local area there's no bungalows, I have to look further afield. And no, I can't get a flat/apartment because, where I live they're more expensive than most bungalows that do come on the market. There's also the fact that I have a dog which makes a flat a bit of a no no. And forget the local HA, as far as they're concerned, yes I'm disabled, yes I'm struggling with where I live, but I have somewhere to live so I'm never going to be a priority.

Mellowyellow222 · 15/10/2021 21:57

I have encountered this attitude. I am single but wanted a four bed in an area which is very propilar with families due to excellent schools. I encountered disapproval because I bought a house that might otherwise have been bought by a family.

OP it is never selfish to buy a house that you want. I am sorry that you can’t afford a bungalow in the area you want, but you can’t place that burden in others.

rrhuth · 15/10/2021 21:57

actually begrudge people like me having suitable housing, if it might mean that they miss out on a few grand profit

I don't begrudge anyone have suitable housing, and many people do not live somewhere and extend for profit, but rather because there are few housing options.

We are all being priced out by BTL, holiday homes, AirBnB - I think almost all families/people are harmed by our housing chaos.

Blue4YOU · 15/10/2021 21:57

I’m in the position of owning a bungalow - sold our beautiful Victorian semi for a bungalow because it can be adapted for my disabled daughter who uses a wheelchair and needs hoisting etc. We’ve lived here a year and cannot get moving on building because of the council’s draconian processes.
That aside - our house is hideous. I absolutely hate it. It has a very big garden - but overlooked by about 10 bigger houses. Sure it was cheaper than our previous house but it really was a sacrifice to move here. And in the Southeast there’s a remarkable lack of bungalows - unless the new build retirement places count.
Provisions for the elderly are actually more available and easier to do than for the younger disabled people.
I’d love to convert the attic for a work space but I probably will never be able to afford it.
If bungalows were ring fenced for the elderly I’d be even more fucked.
There’s no easy solution I fear

CovidDoesNotExistDuh · 15/10/2021 21:59

I live in a bungalow because I can't manage stairs either. I've left it as it was. The rest on the street have converted lofts which makes them cosy more, and the downstairs space is affected by the staircase - finding a not converted one in my area was a ball ache.

TractorAndHeadphones · 15/10/2021 21:59

People aren't buying up all the available homes. It's you who's too precious to live in a flat.
Deal with it people can buy what they want.

PinkiOcelot · 15/10/2021 22:00

Oh the irony!!

Cactus1982 · 15/10/2021 22:02

Why can’t you just get a stair lift put in? Problem solved.

seb342 · 15/10/2021 22:02

We don't have hardly any bungalows where I live just typical terraced houses (Welsh valleys) yet there's disabled people living here coping well and not demanding that bungalows are only allowed to be purchased by people with disabilities. This is one of the most bizarre threads I've seen on here 😂

KingdomScrolls · 15/10/2021 22:03

My grandparents bought a converted bungalow when they first retired and said it's future proof, because whilst it has upstairs bedrooms and a bathroom, it also has the living room, kitchen, large conservatory and two other rooms downstairs which initially were used as a dining room and a hobby room for my gran's crafts and knitting things and my granddad's painting stuff. They also have a downstairs bathroom, as he got ill they converted the dining room back to a bedroom and moved the dining furniture into the conservatory, he didn't have to go upstairs at all. It meant they had a spare room upstairs for visiting relatives and my gran was considering a live in carer who could've had that room and the bathroom and she would've shared the bathroom downstairs with my granddad. He passed away before that became necessary, but she sees it as an option for herself in the future. So it really has worked for them, they've been there more than twenty years now, have good relationships in the local community and it means my gran won't have to leave unless she wants to

Tarne · 15/10/2021 22:03

No elderly or disabled person would want our bungalow because it has 5 acres of land with it! It is perfect for a growing family as we can build a second floor so have enough room for a bedroom for each of the children, a guest room and granny annexe too.

My GP thinks it’s a bad idea for elderly to move into bungalows as it stops them getting the exercise they need to keep strong and healthy. There is such thing as bungalow knees which hastens their decline.

noblegreenk · 15/10/2021 22:03

I'd love a bungalow. I'm 36 but have very dodgy knees and hate stairs. I'd still buy one that had an upstairs guest bedroom as long as there were bedrooms downstairs. I'd just want to make sure that my bedroom and bathroom were downstairs, so that I didn't have to go upstairs all the time.

ilovesooty · 15/10/2021 22:04

Bored now!

Probably because most people think your expectations regarding what people can do with their property are absurd.

Redglitter · 15/10/2021 22:05

oh, and they're cheaper

The opposite is true here. Bungalows are so few and far between & so sought after they go for a premium.

whatkatydid2013 · 15/10/2021 22:05

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

Bored now! Seems that there are very few people who actually have any clue what being disabled is like, and actually begrudge people like me having suitable housing, if it might mean that they miss out on a few grand profit. Thanks to those who have understood, and agree in principle that it might be time the rules were changed. With the selfish attitudes I've seen on here tonight, it's no wonder the world is such a mess!
But most people who bought a bungalow stated they did so because that was what they could afford that met their wants (large garden, parking etc) and not to make money. Surely your actual need is a single storey, ground floor home. In my terraced street you could have a ground floor flat with a 4x4m front bedroom & small ensuite shower room, large kitchen/living area (approx 5 x 9m) and a 3.5 x 5m second bedroom with ensuite. You’d also get a small front garden and access out the back through the rear yard. It would cost less than a bungalow. You could probably even buy two next door to each other and knock them together for the price of a bungalow or buy the whole house and rent out the upper maisonette. It might not be what you want but it would meet the need for single storey accommodation. I genuinely struggle with why you feel like you are entitled to have your wants met but the family that converts a bungalow isn’t?
Cakeofdoom · 15/10/2021 22:09

I have a detached bungalow, I downsized from a large Victorian semi a few years ago. Where I live it's not financially viable to convert the roofspace into a bedroom - it's cheaper to buy a house locally than convert a bungalow into one. Several Neighbours have done so then tried to sell and couldn't get back the outlay on the build so are staying put.

frumpety · 15/10/2021 22:09

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114504272#/?channel=RES_BUY

Could be lovely !

CatNamedEaster · 15/10/2021 22:10

But I haven't seen anyone on here saying they bought so that they could convert and then make a huge profit!
Another PP made a really good point. Get angry with house builders, government quotas etc, not individual householders who made a huge life-changing decision in buying their home.

The only properties we could afford that were close to my elderly parents were bungalows, it's just the way our town is designed. We didn't plan to extend it when we bought it but we probably will now then we'll stay until after we retire. So I guess that means I started off NOT being a selfish arse, am being a selfish arse now, but once I become old and am still living here I'll go back to NOT being a selfish arse again??

EmergencyHydrangea · 15/10/2021 22:10

This is very very weird.

Also what's wrong with a stairlift? They are no uglier than any other functional piece of equipment. I'm not mad about the aesthetics of my washing machine but who cares?

frumpety · 15/10/2021 22:11

Ah sorry OP, just seen you need to be in Hampshire Blush

LemonSwan · 15/10/2021 22:12

this - good footprint + decent sized gardens

BobLemon · 15/10/2021 22:13

Is your money worth more than my money?

EwwSprouts · 15/10/2021 22:13

In my area there are lots of bungalows. Streets of them. If no-one is to buy them unless disabled or aged you'd end up with skewed community. Is that what OP wants? Or to be part of a mixed demographic?

Isthisit22 · 15/10/2021 22:14

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

Bored now! Seems that there are very few people who actually have any clue what being disabled is like, and actually begrudge people like me having suitable housing, if it might mean that they miss out on a few grand profit. Thanks to those who have understood, and agree in principle that it might be time the rules were changed. With the selfish attitudes I've seen on here tonight, it's no wonder the world is such a mess!
Wow you have a massive chip on your shoulder. Many people live with disabilities without being so bitter. Your anger about people doing perfectly reasonable things to their own homes will only harm your own mental health. It is utterly ridiculous to suggest that able bodied people should not buy bungalows (then adapt it to fit a growing family) just in case someone with a disability wants to buy it in future.