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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:
elfycat · 15/10/2021 22:15

We bought a 1930s bungalow 20 years ago because it was the only house in our price bracket that wasn't going to have a huge housing estate built up around it.

We've extended it exactly in the way you describe, because we had children and needed more room. We did put it up for sale, so we could buy a house nearer my parents, but had no buyers as the market dropped. DD1 got a place at a local school so we decided to stay and make the best of it. We then extended to build a large living room into the large garden - with a level wheelchair accessible through the back (there was steps before so maybe not all that accessible without a large ramp being built) as we plan to stay here into out old age. DDs can have the upstairs guest rooms and we will move down.

I'm sorry I didn't think about the people buying it off us in approx 2051 if our DDs decide to sell it. DD2 intends to live here, so might be as late as 2090...

Listener2021 · 15/10/2021 22:17

@Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

Love the bungalow 'frumpety' but sadly I need to be in Hampshire, so that I can get the help from family that I can't necessarily get elsewhere, due to lack of funding.
How lucky you are to have a helpful family. I don't. And to live in Hampshire. I'd love to, but you know, due to lack of funding I can't.

I expect soon I'll have a little tantrum.

Namechangedforthis1357 · 15/10/2021 22:18

How selfish of me!!!!

Using Lols and 😂 is twattage of the highest order, sign of guilt and oh so true.

RedToothBrush · 15/10/2021 22:19

As for the stairlift question - would you want one cluttering up your home? I'm disabled physically, but mentally am fine, I just want a home that looks nice like anyone else's.

Ah so what this really comes down to is you don't want to compromise on something in a house.

Thing is, most people end up having to compromise on something when they buy a home, because they can't afford the perfect home they would ideally like.

So really this is all about aesthetics rather than need...

... And thats where this thread falls flat on its arse.

bungalowrose · 15/10/2021 22:19

We have two. One with a loft conversion as it's our family home and we wanted an extra bedroom. The other we have simply improved the existing structure as we know the target audience will be someone who doesn't want stairs.

I don't think you can get annoyed at people modifying their family homes to suit their needs.

Your anger needs to lie with home builders who won't build bungalows because they can get 4 plus homes on the same plot instead.

Viviennemary · 15/10/2021 22:20

Because folk might not afford to move to a house with more bedrooms so buying a bungalow and extending into the loft is probably more economical. And you could say that about any extension. Leave the two bedroomed houses for folk who only want two bedrooms.

Opalfeet · 15/10/2021 22:20

Because I bought our (dormir) bungalow due to its rural location and no near neighbours. It's dormir anyway so has an upstairs bedroom and bathroim upstairs. I think it's up to people to buy whatever house they want.

Cakeofdoom · 15/10/2021 22:20

I'm in Hampshire btw, I live in an area that is predominantly small detached bungalows...it is not beyond reach

Rosewaterblossom · 15/10/2021 22:21

My ex PIL bought a bungalow which had been converted with an upstairs. Their reason was they could have their bedroom upstairs and still have two guest rooms downstairs (they often had people to stay.) Then when they get too old to manage the stairs they could just live on the ground floor where there is a bedroom, bathroom, lounge and kitchen.

itsnotmeitsu · 15/10/2021 22:23

A small bungalow adjacent to our property was sold to a developer who demolished it. They're now building seven apartments (that wouldn't fit a flea) and two semi-detached bungalows on the available land. The building work is driving our very nervy rescue dog crazy. From what I can see on-line, the apartments are being sold as 'buy-to-lets'.

Casiloco · 15/10/2021 22:23

I think lots of people also have one eye on the future. One issue with most houses is that they don't facilitate retaining space for family to stay at the same time as providing the chance to move (as you get older and less mobile) downstairs to sleep, leaving the upstairs bedrooms for visiting family.

Chalet bungalows fit that requirement perfectly. And, of course, if a disabled person needed family/care support to live in, this would also be a great solution.

Casiloco · 15/10/2021 22:25

@Rosewaterblossom

Sorry, cross-posted!

Exactly.

CaribouCarafe · 15/10/2021 22:25

This is one of the maddest threads I've seen for a while... OP getting het up about people converting their own loft spaces, rather than focussing her anger on the overall housing situation and lack of legislation to ensure accessible housing.

The housing market is crazy and sometimes the only housing type affordable to an individual/ a couple in the right area will be a bungalow - they have every right to convert it if they wish. It's not like they're demolishing rooms in the downstairs to create room upstairs, it can still be converted back to its original state. Plus it seems that the 'ability to convert' is still being factored into pricing these days anyway so bungalow prices aren't as cheap as they once were.

butterflyze · 15/10/2021 22:27

Round here they don't do that to bungalows, OP.

Here, they buy a large bungalow with a nice garden, bulldoze it flat and shoehorn half a dozen new houses into the plot.

godmum56 · 15/10/2021 22:27

I am not disabled or elderly but i do want a bungalow and one with a decent sized garden. A bigger garden gives more privacy and maintenance can be purchased or the garden laid out to minimise it. My problem is two trashed knees which occasionally make stairs impossible and sometimes difficult. I don't want a stairlift or a through floor I just want to be done with stairs. The other thing about bungalows, and I have lived in a couple of rentals, is with the exception of the kitchen and the bathroom, you can use any room for what you like, whereas its not really do-able in a normal house.....hard to have the lounge or dining room upstairs if the kitchen is downstairs, similarly a downstairs master bedroom and an upstairs bathroom is not great.

Pipplekins · 15/10/2021 22:28

We’ve done this, our home wouldn’t be suitable for any with mobility problems and this was why we put a upstairs. My home would not be suitable as it has 40 very steep steps to the front door and all of the garden which whilst very big is terraced with at least 15 or 20 steep steps between each terrace.
Although now I do struggle as I have fibro, my consultant has said at least I can get some good exercise!

gogohm · 15/10/2021 22:41

Plenty of people who need a bungalow live with others who can climb stairs eg my friends dd has the attic room.

Dreamstate · 15/10/2021 22:46

I think its appalling there are all these comments like well love in a ground floor flat or why do you need a big garden or whats wrong sith a starlift.

Fml elderly or disabled people have as much right to live in a house and not be shunted I to ground floor flats which are often not soundproofed properly. Most can and do enjoy pottering about in the ground regardless of age or disability.

And why should they have a stairlift to remind them everyday of the fact they are too old or of their disability...I wouldn't!

In my job we have to think about how accessible travel is and I spent a day with a wheelchair bound person and we did their journey and omg it was appalling. Having to wait for 3 buses before they could get on, having to know what stations have a lift, waiting for the ramp. They have to add almost 2hrs extra time just to do a journey to make it on time. It was really humbling but also I felt incredibly sad because its awful how poorly we accommodate people who cannot travel like able body people can. Imagine anyone could be disabled at any point in their life and if that isn't hard enough we make the world harder to navigate.

That in this day and age we are still so far behind. It should not be the case that a person's journey time is hours longer just cos they are disabled.

So OP I understand what your saying and I agree with you.

Viviennemary · 15/10/2021 22:55

A lot of bungalows have very narrow hallways and would not be at all suitable for wheelchairs.

Mumwithbaggage · 15/10/2021 22:57

Dreamstate, but you can't tell other people what to do because of it! We live in a free society - people can do what they want to their own homes within planning regulations.

Lovelymincepies · 15/10/2021 23:00

I bought my Nan's old bungalow off the rest of my family when she died. I fully intend to stay here I kick the bucket but I like going up the stairs to bed and I wanted an en-suite so I went in the roof.

When I'm unable to manage the stairs I'll move into one of the bedrooms downstairs.

People go into the roofs because they need more rooms and it's cheaper than moving, so many reasons.

Dreamstate · 15/10/2021 23:01

@Mumwithbaggage

Dreamstate, but you can't tell other people what to do because of it! We live in a free society - people can do what they want to their own homes within planning regulations.
There are a number if properties that are advertised as retirement homes etc. I dont see why that can't apply to a certain percentage of bungalows either. Or have some with restrictions in place e.g. no upper extensions. I'm not saying the whole stock but some.
MrsSkylerWhite · 15/10/2021 23:02

Today 21:21 Speakuptomakeyourselfheard

MrsSkylerWhite What is it about what I've said that makes me 'silly'?

Why on earth do you think you have the right to dictate to other people what they do with their own property?

EmergencyHydrangea · 15/10/2021 23:02

@Dreamstate

"And why should they have a stairlift to remind them everyday of the fact they are too old or of their disability...I wouldn't!"

Do you think people forget they are disabled? Its much more frustrating to not have a nessecary mobility aid than to be "reminded" every day that you need it.

ittakes2 · 15/10/2021 23:04

We have a bungalow that was purpose built for a wheel chair user but we did not realise this until we moved in and discovered the many ramps and the sliding door on one of the bathrooms. It also has a second front door so a live in nurse can have separate access.
Now we are selling, I felt a moral obligation to attempt to see if I could find someone who would value the layout designed for a wheel chair. On the advice of a friend with a relevant medical background, I contacted several places including clinics and two compensation lawyers - these people didn't even reply to me let alone direct someone to us who might appreciate the layout. It was not the price as we had not set the price yet.
So we will be putting it on the open market and we obtained planning permission for a 2nd floor if the next owner wants to do this. So very interesting you say its hard to find bungalows as we found it hard to find a buyer.

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