How long can you have a 2 bed with 2 young children?

[Blossom55]

Hi! My DH and I have a DD who is 20 months old, and are starting to think about TTC a second baby. We live in a rented 2 bed house which we love, close to good schools, close to work, friends nearby- so would hold off from moving as long as possible as 3 beds in the area are far and few between and expensive.

My question is, how long could the two children comfortably share a room for? Any experience or advice very appreciated.

If they are the same gender forever. If opposite genders, when the older one becomes a tween.

If 2 of the same gender and the room is big they could share till 12? If boy/girl maybe 7/8?
Although when you live in a council house same sex have to share till 16 and different sex till 10, but I wouldn’t do that if I had the choice.

Until end of primary feels comfortable. Whole of life if same sex.

My cousins shared their whole lives despite being different sexes.

Extra playing/escape space would be an advantage.

Very much depends on wether they are the same sex or not. Officially (for universal credits, council housing etc) its until the eldest is 10 if they are not the same sex.

Lots of same sex siblings always share.

Exactly this

I'm probably going to get eye rolls from some posters for saying this but honestly, I'm a lone parent (widow) of just one child and we struggle! The problem is, 2 beds usually are quite small (not always of course but usually) and often have limited storage.
I've had to give DD the master bedroom due to her toys & needing play space etc. The master bedroom is actually quite big but the second bedroom really isn't. We have one^^ cupboard which is under the stairs and an airing cupboard. That's it. No garage either. So whenever DD wants her bike out, we have to open up the shed at the bottom of the garden.
If I had any chance of getting a 3 bed I absolutely would, not just for the extra bedroom but for the general increase in size of the entire property.

With all of that said, there are some very creative ways some people on TikTok have separated their largest bedroom into two different rooms for their children, without having done any building work! One in particular I saw, used a bunk bed across the middle of the room and a big piece of MDF on one side of the lower bunk! It was brilliant

we were in a 2 bed flat until dc (mixed sexes) were 5-4-2 they were sharing a bedroom in new house until oldest was about 8.

I think it depends on lots of different factors-
Size of bedroom (at one point I moved into smaller bedroom and gave dc 1 and 2 master bedroom which gave us a few years), age difference of dc, if children are same sex, health issues (one of mine has medical issues which means I have to go in to see to dc in the night, also has machines that make some noise) this became an issue with sibling being disturbed too so had to move at that point. I also have dc with asd which is not always conducive to sharing a bedroom (although 1 dc would find it easier than other one). Different personalities could also make a difference to how well children can share a space.
Sharing a bedroom isn't a bad thing (I shared till I left home at 18) however you can't at the ttc stage predict what the future holds /at what point you'll need an extra bedroom.

Council guidelines is 10 if mixed sex 16 if same, obviously plenty of siblings share for much longer and they are just guidelines but you wouldn’t be entitled to anything bigger till then

My DD private renting,DGS, and DGD, 11,and 12, have always shared,she couldn't afford a 3 bed,has moved right away,they now have their own rooms,and GS found it extremely difficult,and couldn't sleep. We also had a 2 bed Maisonette, 2 DSs 1DD, mortgage,had to move from Surrey to west Sussex to afford 3 beds, boys shared always.

Mine shared until the elder (girl) had just started year 7. Younger boy was Year 4. We had the space but they liked sharing! Saying that they immediately grew into their new rooms and it was the right time to split them

If different sex they can stay in one bedroom until around 9 or 10. This is for if the older one is a girl. Boys develop later. DD1started having breasts in year 6 and some of her friends in year 5. It really isn’t right if they are still sharing at this point. DD2 actually made a comment about DD1 growing breasts. I explained to DD1 it’s ok because you can get change in the same changing room as other girls. Not sure what you will say if it’s a brother who is just 2 years younger.

It depends on the size of the property. In my current city the lounges and kitchens are small, and bedrooms are average. In my old city the rooms were all massive so lots of space to spread out.

Thank you everyone this is really helpful! I think with being creative with the space, eg us moving into the smaller bedroom it could work.

We privately rent at the moment- we are saving for a deposit but still a long way off a deposit for a 2 bed, let alone a 3 bed in London.

My dds got their own rooms when eldest went to University at age 18. It's a large master bedroom. They got on well which helped

If council guidelines are that same sex need their own room at 16, what happens if one then leaves home at 18? Do they have to move or pay bedroom tax or something?

Yes, because you'd then be underoccupying the house. The idea is as soon as a child leaves home you would downsize to a smaller place.

no they won’t have to move they will have to pay bedroom tax if one moves out. Many elderly people live in huge houses after their kids have moved out, the council can’t force them out. I know elderly people living in 3/4 bedroom houses alone.

That’s not true at all, they do not force anyone to move out they only have to pay the bedroom tax they won’t make someone downsize

Thanks for the replies.

I had a three bed up til last year but it was effectively a two bed as the box room wasn't even big enough for a single bed.
The kids (different sexes) shared bunk beds. We moved when they were 11/7. They couldn't have shared much longer but it was fine up til then.

Just to add that other things that made it work for us, other than them getting on, is that I tend to hang out downstairs (widow, no partner), dd1 tended to go on the laptop in my room or chill on my bed, dd2 hung out in her room. So we all had our own space when wanted. Also they were taught to be considerate re noise when young.

Mine 8DD, 6DS and 4DS all share a bedroom out of choice. I'd say DD will want to move out this year but it's been lovely all having them in the same room.