Buying a house without a garden

[Cookiemg]

Hi

I need a range of opinion. We have a 9 week old girl and are looking to buy a house asap. We are currently renting in Edinburgh as we have sold our old place but haven't seen anywhere we would want to buy. We viewed a stunning place on Sunday and I fell in love with the house but it has no garden.An old man lives below and has a massive unkempt garden attached to his property but access is only available through his house. There is a small public park at the end if the street . I have always wanted a garden for her to play in, for washing and for having bbqs. Realistically though, I would hate the maintenance of it and how many great weather days do we have for sitting out? My husband does not want to move for 10 years so I feel under huge pressure to get it right!

Thanks so much

No, I wouldn't buy a place with no garden. Even in Edinburgh. It's a huge selling point there, btw.

I wouldn't.

Our house in the UK has a garden and I miss it daily. We are in another country at the moment and renting a 3rd floor apartment with no outside space. We have 4 parks within 5-15mins walk which is great BUT when you want to do the dishes/cook dinner/other chore here, and your little one quite rightly would rather be outside playing, well it's a pain in the butt.

Having just moved from a no-garden flat to a house with a small-but-it's-still-a-garden-hooray, I echo the 'don't do it' crowd. It's so nice to have somewhere to sit out and to let DD run riot, without having to make the effort to get to the park.

But no place is perfect - you just have to make up your mind if you can live without outdoor space.

God, no. We have a tiny garden and that's bad enough. You need somewhere to turf them out to, otherwise they will grow up like DS is threatening to - obsessed with TV, computers and games, hopeless at football, scared of wasps and glacier-pale.

We have a yard the size of a handkerchief and it depresses the hell out of me. It almost makes me hate the nice weather because there's nowhere we can easily enjoy it.

We have a garden but we didn't move here until dd was nearly 6. Before that, I'd have lived in a cardboard box if it had a garden attached! I really wouldn't recommend it. You have no idea how little sunshine is actually needed before your children are willing to spend time - and energy - in a garden, until you don't have one! It only needs to not be pouring, and they're out in it getting rid of all that energy that is otherwise used in asking questions again and again or getting mummy or daddy to do things.

When we moved here we found that suddenly "I'm bored" didn't apply. While there is daylight there is no CBeebies or CBBC (and you have no idea yet how wonderful that is)!

Houses are for grown ups; gardens are for children. Your wonderful house will turn into a cage without a garden, believe me.

you need a garden. when your dc gets to toddler age it is crucial for trikes, pull alongs, etc. and you need one with direct access from kitchen or sitting room, so they can pootle in and out. We've only just got now and it has made such a difference.

jux exactly right - it is like being in a cage.

Be careful about buying a place on the basis of using the land owned by the neighbour. Even if the neighbour who is currently there is happy with it, when they move, you may well end up with a battle on your hands with the new neighbours or the use of the land being taken off you. And if the neighbour is old, it might not be long before they vacate the house to move somewhere more manageable or whatever.

I would not advise buying a place with no outdoor space. As others have said, it is a really good thing when you reach toddler stage.

I would say don't do it personally. I know I would struggle so much without a garden for our 3 year old - as much for myself as her! Obviously buying some land and getting independent access from the neighbour would be a fabulous option. Good luck