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?

Weirdest thread ever. I live in a terraced house and its safe as, err houses. I'd feel much more vulnerable coming home at night to a house with a drive that I had to walk up

Or single people, or older people or people who want/need a smaller home.

Of my neighbours we have me (lone parent with a 16 yo), a single man in his 40s, a single man in his 70s (?), a couple, a younger woman, a woman in her 60s, a couple with one child, an older couple & a young couple with a baby.

I imagine a few of them absolutely have a budget for a larger home, but have actively chosen to live here, because...you know they are nice homes and they suit their needs.

I’m not sure your parent’s house or one with a long drive way is necessarily any safer. You could get any nutter lurking around in the bushes!

That actually happened at my parents’ home when I was a kid. They had a long driveway, big trees and a high wall, so seemingly safer by your yardstick. Once a peeping Tom was hanging around looking in their windows at night and my dad went out and confronted him with a golf club while my mum called the police.

Don’t buy a (perfectly normal) terraced house if it makes you feel uncomfortable, but be vigilant wherever you live and keep your door locked.

Yes, exactly. Sometimes they're in a really lovely part of town, convenient for transport and shops. They're not necessarily in a bleak post industrial landscape! 😊

My first flat with DH was like that and I hated it. I think it was made worse by what was around us though. So, 2 doors down was a takeaway and then beyond that was a restaurant. We used to have people sit on our windowsill smoking, and twice we had someone walk in because we'd forgotten to lock the door.

Previously I'd lived in top floor tenement flats and grew up in military housing. It might be the norm for millions of people, but if its not your experience and you don't feel comfortable, then at least you can cross those houses off your list. Good luck with finding your new home.

If someone wanted to attack you, a small front garden is no deterrent! My concerns would be around draughts from the door rather than insecurity. Have daylight blinds or plantation shutters in the front window.

You wouldn't like Amsterdam. Dd's bedroom window goes from a foot above the pavement to about shoulder height.Loads have huge open windows right on the pavement.And they really don't like net curtains there.

It's very common in the city where I live. As far South as you can get - our whole city has literally hundreds of roads full of terraced house like this, all built about the early 1900's. They are so plentiful no-one gives a second thought about living in them.

My DH and I lived in one when we first married, fifty-odd years ago. It was all we could afford!

I love walking around London mews houses and having a good nosey!

Only thing that put me off... well 2 things really, was when people parked half on the pavement, so I couldn't get the pram out... and having to wash the windows so often because of being right next to the road.
In a cul-de-sac now... bliss.

This depends on area some towns these are about 80% of the houses. It's very common for terraces.

I've lived in a few like it can't say it bothered me but if you don't like it then simply don't buy it.

Oh okay. They drop and run here, sometimes you may get a knock, but that's quite rare these days. People do get parcels stolen too by what we call Porch Pirates. I get my parcels sent to my work.

So like millions of victorian terraces then?

I think a pp summed it up - you don't have to buy it so if you don't like that feature, don't.

My gran lives in one (and has her entire life) and has never had any issues - realistically most people don't have any reason to walk down a random street unless they live there so there aren't hordes of strangers passing by and staring in. Most people have some form of blinds or window reflection stuff on so people can't see in fully. Tbh the hardest thing is the lack of parking.

I think that's a problem with the parcel delivery service. Most/many require proof of delivery.

I would call that a flush fronted terrace and I used to live in one. I didn't use the front room that much so people walking by outside didn't bother me but I had net curtains up in any case. Friends of mine had similar as it is often a first step on the property ladder. I had a hallway but they had front doors that went straight into the front room. There's often a back room unless they're knocked through and there's usually a shared side or back alley for rear access and bins etc.
I know someone who lives in a terrace that gives straight onto the road really as there's no pavement to speak of, just a tiny strip of earth!

I live in exactly this style of house in London, a couple of doors from a popular pub and busy mini shop. Yes, you will get people staring in. We have our telly on the wall and if there's a big match on, you sometimes get people having a sneaky watch. I'm nosey myself, so I know there's no harm in it! I wave and smile, and they usually look a bit shamefaced and leave - or wave back! If that bothers you, it will be a problem, but I find it vaguely comforting. As for security, I'm much less worried about break ons, even when our door had got a bit dodgy. It's just too obvious. I also like being close to the road in case of trouble indoors. I can run for help quickly. That said, there have been times (especially when the pub gets lively) when I think... What would happen if someone just kicked our door down? Or if there was a fight and they rammed our door and it came open. What about the kids etc, etc. But the actual chances of this are miniscule, and I remind myself of this when I think it. I also put a chain on the inside that I use at night. I think the perceived fear is far greater than the reality of risk, and the benefits of these houses are great. But it depends if you can get a grip on those irrational fears. If you can't, there's no point and buy elsewhere. You need to be happy in your home not stressed...

Gosh yes OP, ghastly, terrible. Certainly not for the likes of me. No room for my hydrangea.

Oh my hilarious photo didn’t post

I live in a house like this. I don't feel unsafe at all. I keep my front door locked at all times. Some ways I feel safer, as there is no place invisible on the street for anyone to hide, no side entrances so only one point of entry.
The downside is sometimes people stand outside our door talking, more annoying then anything. And parking can be a issue on our street, can't allways guarantee a place on our street.

And use blinds titled on an angle to stop people looking in..however I dont find it an issue. As I most people are just focused in their own world. It's what we could afford at the time. You could think of it as a stepping stone house.

The first home I owned was like this, a two up, two down terrace, of which are there are millions across the country. I loved it and lived happily there, alone, for several years. It does take a bit of getting used to, as passersby are so close to your front window. But that is all they are, passersby. How often have you stopped and stared right into someone else’s living room? Probably never and that is true of the vast majority. You may come across someone rude or weird who does, but I grew up in flats and felt most unsafe in the stairwells or lifts. There are pros and cons to all types of homes. However net curtains are a must, otherwise you will feel like you are in a goldfish bowl.

Nothing wrong with a flat, there are some very lovely ones around. I had a final choice between my apparently terrible unsafe house and a two bed flat in a slightly nicer area. I think it was having my own backyard that swung it for me, but I think I'd have been happy in either.

The front of our house is straight onto the street. I was put off at first but the back garden and square footage convinced me to show dh. We viewed and I fell in love with the massive rooms and sea views from the two upper floors.

Been here 14 years and never felt unsafe. Fair enough our main sitting room is on the first floor but even we are downstairs, it's ok. I bought some film for the windows which lets the light in but stops anyone looking through.

There are millions of houses like this. I'd have thought they'd be safer as nowhere for someone to hide and jump you. Pay common sense to security by locking front door when home plus chain to answer door. Ensure privacy with nets/blinds/film. I don't see the problem. Some older character places are like this.

No, they knock on the door, or try a neighbour. Or more than likely the dweller will have an Amazon/Evri locker that parcels get left in. We have them all over the place - in stations, outside supermarkets etc.

Sadly, some drivers will leave packages on the pavement in busy streets - I'm looking at you Amazon driver in Liverpool, but they aren't suppsed to.

These houses are very normal for me (London). My mum lives in one. My house has a concreted area in front, but a big front window and front door leading straight into the living room, which is also where I sleep. It's a busy street, and I've often had peerers, including one young woman who, peculiarly, stood by my front window taking photos of the inside. I THINK she was taking a picture of the cats, but who knows.

I've never lived in a house with a long drive, but I think I'd be spooked by the prospect of people lurking in the undergrowth, hidden from the road. I've lived in flats nearly all my life, my current place is a converted pub split into seven units. I'm lucky to have fantastic neighbours and I find it immensely comforting that if I banged on the wall and hollered, they would hear. I also suspect burglars dont target homes where the entire street can see them enter.

So I guess what you're used to frames what you feel comfortable with. It's so important to feel secure, OP, so don't ignore your gut instincts. But do consider that these houses are not intrinsically unsafe. Get privacy for your front window (loads of good options), get good door locks and a ring doorbell, maybe a sensor light, befriend your neighbours, and you'll be gold.