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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to ask which flat you would choose?

91 replies

TooManyPringles · 31/01/2023 16:00

I've put two offers in and now I'm stuck. How do I decide which one to ultimately go for? Both are 2 beds with outside space, which was my criteria when choosing.

Flat A: just over 500 sq ft. Very small! A period conversion, gorgeous little Victorian garden flat built with yellow London brick and a bay window at the front. The kitchen is just two units and a cooker in the living room, essentially. I would need to come up with a lot of storage, and use the space creatively. The 'kitchen/ living area' would basically become a big eat-in kitchen, and then I'd use the second bedroom as a living room. It has one small bathroom, and a cute little courtyard garden. It's an end of terrace, so the garden wraps around the back. When I viewed it, there were a couple of damp patches on the walls, and evidence of a leak coming through from the flat above.

Flat B: Nearly 700 sq ft. In a modern, private, gated block (built early 2000s). Two big bedrooms (one en suite) and a long kitchen/ living room in a rectangle shape - a kitchen area at the back (lots of storage/ cupboards) and then a living area which has French windows opening onto a patio, which then leads onto a communal garden (shared by a couple of other flats in the block). The patio just belongs to the flat though. It feels very quiet - almost rural. (maybe a bit suburban? There is a great view of the London skyline from the entrance to the block, though).

I'm really stuck. How would you choose? I like the space in Flat B, and the idea of having more flexibility with the en suite/ bigger bedrooms etc. I worry that the block itself just feels a bit character-less, though? I always envisaged living in a period property. But then...the damp and the lack of space in the Victorian flat may end up being annoying. But the bay window is so pretty!

Which would you go for, and how have you made decisions about homes when you've been deciding? Tips and ideas about making this sort of decision welcome!

Thank you.

Voting, for fun:

YABU: Flat A
YANBU: Flat B

OP posts:
Eastereggsboxedupready · 31/01/2023 16:02

Personally I would choose the one that gives you the most privacy. The other issues can be sorted over time.

PacificallyRequested · 31/01/2023 16:04

Flat B definitely. More space, en suite, storage and balcony would swing it for me.

The small kitchen, damp and leaks would make me not want to touch Flat A.

ShillyShallySherbet · 31/01/2023 16:05

I’d go for the modern house. Older houses, while pretty, can have so many problems, it can cost a lot of money to bring them up to modern standards and efficiency.

ShillyShallySherbet · 31/01/2023 16:05

Flay sorry not house

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 31/01/2023 16:06

Flat B -
period properties look gorgeous but I like my space and I’d hope the flat built in early 2000s would have less issues like damp.

Lkydfju · 31/01/2023 16:06

B - I wouldn’t go for somewhere that I could see damp patches and I’d be worried about mould. I’d also go for more space of B; looking into the future it gives you more flexibility for partners, guests, working from home, lodgers - anything that life could throw at you.

FlounderingFruitcake · 31/01/2023 16:07

B. Not a chance in hell I’d live in a Victorian conversion that wasn’t top floor. I know many people that have and they were all driven mad from the noise upstairs and moved on asap, and I don’t mean anti social either, totally reasonable stuff like going to the toilet. And that’s before you get into a damp problem that you can’t fix yourself. A sounds horrific, I wouldn’t even be considering it. B on the other hand sounds quite nice.

NibbledSwitch · 31/01/2023 16:08

Victorian conversions are normally really badly insulated... you would need to be happy to hear your neighbours talking, cooking, going to the toilet etc.
Tbh... apart from looking cute it sounds miserably small and already had potential leaking problems from the upstairs neighbours.
I would choose the modern flat IMHO.

FluffyYucca · 31/01/2023 16:08

Definitely B

icefishing · 31/01/2023 16:08

I would go for B. I love period property but sound proofing is often an issue in conversions and they can be cold.
Add damp damage from another property and the fact it is tiny with no storage.

Pjmasksonrepeat · 31/01/2023 16:08

Are they both ground floor flats or middle or top? That would play a huge part for myself.

ApolloandDaphne · 31/01/2023 16:09

B. Not a chance I would go for a small damp period property with no kitchen

Nandocushion · 31/01/2023 16:09

Flat B from what's here, but you don't mention location? Are they in the same area?

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 31/01/2023 16:10

I normally go hard-core for the Victorian - but in this case I’d lean towards the newer one because of the existing issues and also because it’s a conversion it might be noisy.

Namechangedforthis234 · 31/01/2023 16:10

The one without damp/mould purely for that reason.

Spottypaperdoll · 31/01/2023 16:11

I’ve done the beautiful Victorian conversion flat, in truth they are cold, damp, and noisy. The novelty of the period features wears off very quickly when your clothes are getting ruined and it costs through the teeth to keep it warm.

Flat B a million times over

quietnightmare · 31/01/2023 16:11

B

ColdHandsHotHead · 31/01/2023 16:11

I lived in a flat similar to flat A and damp and leaks from above were an ongoing nightmare. Would not touch the same again.

TooManyPringles · 31/01/2023 16:11

This is helpful, thank you! @Pjmasksonrepeat both ground floor; @Nandocushion yes, pretty much the same location. Flat A is marginally closer (as in, a few mins' walk closer) to the cool coffee shops, Flat B is a couple of minutes' walk closer to the train station. Not much in it!

OP posts:
mummymeister · 31/01/2023 16:12

whichever one isnt on the ground floor. I would never live in a ground floor inner city flat again after being burgled multiple times. you have to feel safe and secure in where you live.

WeegieWan · 31/01/2023 16:12

Flat B - bigger, more storage, less maintenance, smaller fuel bills as more economical to heat.
Flat A sounds cute but unless you are only planning to live there about 2 years anyway it will drive you crazy once the novelty wears off.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2023 16:12

I'm generally a big fan of period properties and dislike newer builds but in this case, Flat B all the way.

RoseBucket · 31/01/2023 16:13

What are the lease lengths and service charges etc

TooManyPringles · 31/01/2023 16:14

@RoseBucket - Flat A - lease 85 years, to be extended to 125 years on completion; Flat B 978 years.

Flat A - approx £1000 service charge ground rent pa/ Flat B approx £2000 pa

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 31/01/2023 16:15

I would much prefer a purpose built flat over a conversion. If the conversion hasn't been well done there will be all sorts of problems including poor soundproofing.

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