To find it hard to adjust to this kind of home?

[Firefumes]

I recently viewed some houses, where the front door/windows are right at pavement level. So people walking past the house can easily see in, if you were unlocking the front door, others would be directly behind you if they walk past. Aibu to feel this is a bit unsafe?

I’m sure many people manage okay. It’s just that I have had my own apartment for a few years. It’s a nice apartment complex with restricted access, gated entry, concierge so feels safe. I’m also on the 2nd floor. So I feel risk of theft or break ins are low.

Previously I lived with my friends at university, and before that I lived with my parents. My parent’s house has a long, steep driveway and a porch. Their front door isn’t accessible at street/pavement level to passers by, you’d have to take the stairs. As a result, they’ve never had any bother from strangers and their house feels safe. Was no bother leaving parcels in the porch as they were covered from street view.

But something about the houses I viewed recently, just felt unsafe. Like they were too accessible to members of the public, people just naturally end up in close proximity and able to see inside. Aibu to write these off for that reason?

I’ve never lived in a house without a front garden, but I do hate net curtains - and people walking past do tend to glance in, especially if the light is on and the main curtains aren’t closed, so I got some window cling to partially obscure the lower half of the windows. It’s on Amazon, really easy to apply (it’s not sticky-backed - you just apply with water and a wee drop of fairy liquid) and does the job really well.

DH came home early from work once and disturbed a burglar in the act of rummaging through our house. It still took the police 3 hours to turn up. I'm not sure 'someone looked through my window then tried the door handle but it was locked' would have got much of a response.

OP ee used to live in one of these no front garden/path/drive places, in an area of Bedford that was all built as factory workers houses, so cookie-cutter/identical terraces, front doors opening onto the street. People just used Yale locks and net curtains or blinds. I suspect the main issue here is just that it's not what you're used to. If anything we've had more break ins and attempted break ins in our current neighbourhood, not because the crime rate here is higher but because people use front hedges and garden walls to shield them while they're trying to force doors open. You can't do that on a flat-fronted terrace (especially if the neighbours are nosy).

I currently live in a detached house with a large driveway and front garden, set right back off the road (and at an angle, so the front door doesn't even face the road).

However, I would really prefer to live in the nearby small, medieval cathedral city, where to live within the city walls (and therefore have the easy access to the restaurants, shops, bars, theatre etc I'd like) would mean buying one of the houses you're so worried about, OP. They cost a small fortune and are highly desirable!

It's totally fine to have one of your red-line requirements to be that the front door doesn't open straight onto the public pavement. No one can force you to buy a property you don't want.

Whether it's actually unsafe depends on the area. The same layout in a sleepy town or little village, or in a posh expensive part of London, might be perfectly safe.

I walked past one of these once and saw my colleague ironing in his pants. You have to either use nets, voiles or shutters. Shutters make your home dark. You have to choose your house according to your budget but I would not choose a house that you step out onto the pavement through choice.

I lived in one and didn't want net curtains as it was quite dark anyway. Occasionally people would look through the window. I used to wave at them and they quickly went away.

This thread reminds me of the Katherine Tate posh family!

I live in a village. Loads of such houses here. We are in the south.
I’m just not understanding how people need to explain what they are.

Oh and my house was built in the 80s, quite easy to insulate!

I suppose it depends on the area. Look up the crime rate. As others have said, being less secluded may be safer?

We don’t have houses like that near me and it would probably feel quite exposed for a while. If I was desperate to get on the housing ladder I would consider it.

You’ve led a very sheltered life if this kind of house is a surprise to you OP! Many, many homes are like this 🤦‍♀️

I understand op. Due to a change in financial circumstances I have had to move from a house that was very private and away from road to a house right on the street . This was a year ago and I still find it unnerving. I am sitting on my sofa and people are walking right by my window.

i have put the reflective foil up and that is good.

in my house the kitchen is at the back and there is a garden. This feels much more private - even though it is surrounded on all sides.

i try and give my head a wobble - because presumably I am actually safer here where I am always visible? If something happened to me here others would see and hear and help. In my private idyl no one would have heard me scream!

I live in a village where there are huge numbers of houses like this. It makes me feel much safer because there's nowhere for people to hide in the garden, porch etc. When there was a spate of burglaries it was the ones with more gardens that were targeted. I have been in lots of the houses and aboht half are upside down I.e. living room at the top - which i prefer.

Rows upon rows of that type of house where I live. Some are standard 2 up 2 down with a back yard (those are the posh ones because they had individual toilets in the yards so now room to extend) or proper back to backs when you only have the one front door and another house built directly on the back of you. I live in an old northern cotton mill and mining town.

Maybe don’t view these type of houses then OP.

I agree that everyone has to make the decisions that feel safest for them, but the unthinking privilege on this thread is really mindblowing.

Millions and millions of people in the UK live perfectly happily in these houses and in many areas they are very much sought-after!

I understand the unease around privacy however I also know this is the norm for many area and people don't bat an eyelid at it.

My advice - rent an Airbnb for a night or two in this style in and see how you feel.

My house opens onto the street and was £1m+😂 Even some expensive houses have the dreaded street access doors

Re:nets a lot of houses in London have plantation shutters. These offer privacy while letting light in.

It’s one thing to have never lived in a house like this. It’s quite another to be so shocked and horrified at their existence. Quite an irritating attitude really.

The way some posters are describing a commonplace terraced house make me chuckle.
"Coronation Street" houses 😁

I live in Yorkshire. There are loads of this type of house in every town. It isn't worthy of comment.

Is that like the ones in Coronation Street. I live in New Zealand and we don't have that style here. I always wonder how they get parcels, but assumed you would get them sent to a local PO. Would also think it would be tempting for children to knock on random doors and run away. Though they do that here anyway.

There’s 1000’s of houses like that round here. It’s a normal style of house! I lived in one like that for years. It was all l could afford ( expensive house price area)

Parcels are delivered in the normal way. Knock on the door. No one in, leave with a neighbour or a ‘safe space’.
Never had a single child knock on the door for fun. Never had any privacy invaded or felt unsafe.
No one IRL has remarked on the fact I live in such a house.

In terms of feeling safe, give me a London terrace any day. I would be more scared of living in a big house in a rural setting with a long driveway and no neighbours nearby. Perhaps that’s because I have always lived in cities and it is what you are used to.