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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Declining townhouse layout?

574 replies

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 08:43

Hello,

I have been on the council register list for about 12 years. It is just DD and I (12). Over the course of those years, we have viewed four properties. I declined two properties due to price and unsuitability and the other two properties I was outbid.

I recently received a call from the council to view a property, which was declined by the first person. I went to view the property and although the location is great (for work and DD travelling to school and not far from my parent's house) and the rent is quite decent. The townhouse layout is what is putting me off. It's a terrace conversion flat. I am on the first floor (a neighbour below but no one above me) but it has a townhouse sort of layout. I have my own entrance door, the hallway/entrance is on the ground floor, the bathroom is on the first floor. The kitchen and living room is on the second floor and the bedrooms are on the third floor.

Also, a friend recently told me that if I was to consider buying the property (which I wouldn't), it would be very difficult to sell as townhouses are unpopular.

I feel a bit disheartened to consider turning this down but I wanted to gather all of your thoughts before I speak to the council. What should I do?

OP posts:
Qilin · 31/07/2023 10:17

We have a three storey townhouse. They don't seem unpopular here and sell very well.
We do have toilets on the ground floor and the top floor so never have to go far.

Our front of house downstairs isn't a living area. So we always lock the doors and we have a ring doorbell. We also have a burglar alarm which we put on if out and overnight.

We've lived here for about 17-18 years, since Dd was about 3. Never had any issues

Jujubes5 · 31/07/2023 10:17

I think it’s good -except for carrying goods and rubbish up and down stairs.
no noise from neighbour below. Lots of light, away from traffic noise.

Original poster
notintowoo · 31/07/2023 10:17

Doris86 · 31/07/2023 09:57

You’ve waited 12 years and are currently squeezed into a studio flat. You’ve been offered a lovely home with plenty more space. Why are you looking for excuses to turn it down?

I'm not sure. It's the fear of the unknown. I'm scared to move on.

OP posts:
BewareBends · 31/07/2023 10:18

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 10:17

I'm not sure. It's the fear of the unknown. I'm scared to move on.

Show quote history

But how can this option possibly be worse than being crammed into a tiny flat with a 12 year old?

PinkLadyLove · 31/07/2023 10:21

Its not a townhouse, its a maisonette.

Hummingbird89 · 31/07/2023 10:21

I would bite their hand off. Think of how your 12 year olds life will improve!

ncedforthisprofessionalquestion · 31/07/2023 10:21

You are using the wrong comparison. Don't compare it to your ideal property, compare it to your current set-up. In which case it is clearly a huge improvement!

Teateaandmoretea · 31/07/2023 10:21

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 10:17

I'm not sure. It's the fear of the unknown. I'm scared to move on.

Show quote history

Yeah, that was the only explanation I could think of. You need to get over the fear and be ready to grab your good fortune with both hands.

loislovesstewie · 31/07/2023 10:21

OP, I used to work as a homeless officer. I have dealt with people who have refused perfectly reasonable offers. I don't want to make you feel under pressure but so many people came back ages later and complained they hadn't been housed, they were desperate, they couldn't understand why they had heard nothing more after their refusal of a property. Now you might be lucky, you might be offered something else. On the other hand , it might never happen. Don't listen to friends, view the property and really think about it. Is it worse than where you are now? Does it resolve your current issue? Bear in mind that if you were offered something else it might be worse than what is on offer now.

LardoBurrows · 31/07/2023 10:21

Ok, so, Having to go down two flights of stairs from your bedrooms to the bathroom would be a pain during the night, but if you and your daughter are fit and healthy with no bladder/incontinence issues then this is manageable.

Yes you will have a lot of stairs to clean, but with a cordless vacuum this is manageable, either use the attachment on your house vacuum or buy one specifically for stairs.

It's two flights to carry up shopping, but plenty of people living in flats do this everyday. The positive is it keeps you fit.

Security and not being able to hear if someone breaks in, I get this worry. But, you could fit a mortice lock, security chain and bolts on the front door. You could also fit locks or bolts on your living room and bedroom doors, although this could considered a fire risk.

All in all, considering it's in a good location for you and DD, the rent is reasonable, it's a secure tenancy and it means finally you get your own bedroom, I would seriously consider it.

The worry about this layout so flat is immaterial as you are not buying the property. If you are worried about doing a property exchange in the future, given how many people here have said how popular this type of layout is and how good the location is, then It doesn't seem as though you would have much trouble exchanging it in the future, if you needed to.

Teateaandmoretea · 31/07/2023 10:22

Is it also possible that this 'friend' is actually jealous and is trying to put you off for that reason?

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 31/07/2023 10:23

Please take it.

BrutusMcDogface · 31/07/2023 10:23

I don’t get this. Why are you being so picky? If location is perfect, and you’re not going to buy it, then accept with both hands. You’ve been on the list 12 years.

Window82 · 31/07/2023 10:23

In the meantime in the real world…if you don’t take it OP a grateful family will.

Libraryloiterer · 31/07/2023 10:24

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 10:17

I'm not sure. It's the fear of the unknown. I'm scared to move on.

Show quote history

Moving is always stressful, but for most people the mid to longer term gains far, far outweigh the short term stress. I would times this by 10 in your shoes, there is absolutely NO WAY you're better off in a pokey studio than a maisonette (which are very desirable on the 'flat' market by the way)!

Take a deep breath and accept this great opportunity for you and your daughter. Best wishes OP

Sirzy · 31/07/2023 10:24

I think you would be mad to turn it down.

it may not be 100% ideal but it’s a lot better than you have now and gives you the stability that comes with being in a council property rather than private rent

Notcontent · 31/07/2023 10:27

@notintowoo i live in a fairly central part of London and most properties around here are like that. They are all terrace houses - either single residences or divided up into flats like the one you describe.

in my street I have quite a few neighbours in their 70s and 80s and they manage the stairs without any problems. In fact moving around is probably what keeps them fit and healthy!!!

38andtrying · 31/07/2023 10:27

i'm confused, so you are buying this house from the council? it won't be a council house, you will own it? that being case if you are not happy no don't buy it. I didn't know councils sold houses to people who didn't already live in them! what is this list and how do you get on it?

Wheresthebeach · 31/07/2023 10:27

FrogsWormsandCaterpillars · 31/07/2023 09:09

Surely you’re not that desperate for a council house if you’ve been waiting for 12 years?! And to be that picky is quite selfish imo. There are people (I was one) who are literally homeless and would take anything they’re offered for a roof over their head. I lived in a tiny 2 bed house for 2 years with 3 children until something more suitable came up.

This.

Madcats · 31/07/2023 10:27

I live in a townhouse (albeit a roomy Georgian one). They are brilliant. It helps to have good neighbours, but we rarely hear ours.

If it is easy for work and school and close to your parents, grab it!

When your child gets a little older they/you will appreciate the privacy/space. If you are short of furniture, you can easily manage with just a mattress for one of you until you can afford to tope things up.

That is assuming that you can afford the electric and gas(?).

greenteaandmarshmallows · 31/07/2023 10:27

potterycorner · 31/07/2023 10:06

@Waffle78

You will never get the perfect house with council housing.

Excellent point! And in fact, we will never get the perfect house with private housing, either. Life is all compromise, but small positive changes can make a big difference over time.

Without knowing the house, I wonder whether you could split one of the top floor bedrooms into two - bathroom and small study/boxroom - and convert the first floor bathroom to a bedroom. Is there loft space? It's a canvas, you would be able to do a lot with this.

She can't do that. It's a council house. They aren't going to just change the layout if OP asks them to. The bathroom is where it is.

greenteaandmarshmallows · 31/07/2023 10:29

notintowoo · 31/07/2023 10:17

I'm not sure. It's the fear of the unknown. I'm scared to move on.

Show quote history

Fine. Stay where you are then?

cryinglaughing · 31/07/2023 10:29

I'd be snapping their hand off, the thought of sleeping in the living room/kitchen sounds depressing.

itsmyp4rty · 31/07/2023 10:31

You're currently sleeping in your living room, I have no idea why you're not biting their hand off for this.

LolaO · 31/07/2023 10:31

I think you should take it OP - nuts not to really, you and your daughter would be so much happier with the extra space!

cleaning - cordless vac makes cleaning stairs pretty easy, then have one set of bleach and other cleaning products that “live” in the bathroom and a second set that “live” in the kitchen. So no carting the products far.

security - mortice lock and a ring doorbell that way you know if someone tries to get in and can actually see (and if necessary if it is a friend speak to) them.