Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
House swaps

Find help and advice from other Mumsnetters on our House Swap forum.

Original poster

Moving from a house to a flat

49 replies

Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 06:55

Hi all
we are currently renting a 2 bedroom house but have been offered a 2 bed ground floor flat through our local council.
im stuck in two minds of what to do.
The rent is £200 cheaper a month which will allow us to save, the area is a new built area and only 10 minutes down the road.
Im just scared that if I go I will regret leaving my house and garden, to the never be able to get out the flat for many years.
we have two boys (8&3) who will share a room. Currently they have the box room in our current house but the council state that the flat is two double bedrooms.
Any advice would be helpful

OP posts:
orangeisthenewpuce · 27/10/2022 06:59

I'd go for the flat. You'll have secure tenancy and might be able to buy it after a few years if you want to. More room for the boys too.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 27/10/2022 07:03

I'm in a flat and have raised 2 children here. Did it for security and affordability, and it's been fine.

People all over the world raise children in flats.

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:06

Thank you. We do currently have security in our house as it’s a family member and have lived here for 7 years.
but with it being a family member nothing gets fixed properly and we have damp/mould in the main bedroom also.
the area we live in now the high schools are not the best so another factor of getting the boys away.
my mum just thinks we will regret leaving our garden. My heads all over the place and haven’t slept properly thinking of it all.
also I haven’t seen the new flat yet as it’s not finished until mid November

OP posts:
hownowpurplecow · 27/10/2022 07:13

We recently moved from a 3 bed detached private rental to buying a 3 bed ground floor flat, it’s smaller than what we were used to but still enough space & the mortgage is £700 PCM less than our rent was. Honestly, you and the kids will adapt and if it’s secure rent that will allow you to save & potentially buy it at a discounted rate in future then I’d go for it. Kids don’t care. My DS actually seems to prefer it because now he can play in his room without feeling separated from
us (he’s only 3).
I’d take the council option in a heartbeat, you know it will be maintained, if it’s a new build then it should be well insulated which will help reduce your utility bills too. There’s more to life than a garden, as long as you’ve got a nice park nearby then the kids will be fine x

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:17

hownowpurplecow · 27/10/2022 07:13

We recently moved from a 3 bed detached private rental to buying a 3 bed ground floor flat, it’s smaller than what we were used to but still enough space & the mortgage is £700 PCM less than our rent was. Honestly, you and the kids will adapt and if it’s secure rent that will allow you to save & potentially buy it at a discounted rate in future then I’d go for it. Kids don’t care. My DS actually seems to prefer it because now he can play in his room without feeling separated from
us (he’s only 3).
I’d take the council option in a heartbeat, you know it will be maintained, if it’s a new build then it should be well insulated which will help reduce your utility bills too. There’s more to life than a garden, as long as you’ve got a nice park nearby then the kids will be fine x

I think that how I need to look at it. We shall be saving nearly £3000 a year which is great. My friend will live on the next street and she has a garden if needs be for the summer. The area has parks, fields and they are just building football pitches also.
Atm we are just chucking rent money away for nothing and not being able to save anything.
the price of 3 bed houses to private rent in my area are £1200+ for a decent one, we could afford it but would never have money to enjoy life.
the flat is going to be £500 a month which is crazy prices.
thabks for the advice

OP posts:
muchprefersummer · 27/10/2022 07:19

I would move. You'll be moving into a brand new flat which will with more economical than your current damp house. Hopefully the box room will be bigger for your children. You'll save £200 on rent and probably a whole lot more on heating etc. New builds can have a lovely new fresh feel to them.

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:31

muchprefersummer · 27/10/2022 07:19

I would move. You'll be moving into a brand new flat which will with more economical than your current damp house. Hopefully the box room will be bigger for your children. You'll save £200 on rent and probably a whole lot more on heating etc. New builds can have a lovely new fresh feel to them.

I’m hoping the housing association will send me floor plans so I can see the size of the bedrooms. That’s true that we would be saving on utility bills also.
thank you for the advice

OP posts:
CloseYourEyesAndSee · 27/10/2022 07:34

If it's a council or HA tenancy then take it. I moved from a private rented house which I loved with garden, parking etc to a flat which I bought. The benefits of owning (and for you, secure tenancy) far outweigh the benefits of having a house IMO. Yes it's smaller and there are different neighbour issues to manage and it's a bit noisier but security for your kids is worth everything IMO!!

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 27/10/2022 07:35

If you turn this down will you stay on the housing list or be bumped? You may not be offered anything better even if you stay on it

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:36

Once with council you can put in for a house, it’s sometimes easier to do this once you rent from council.

id take the flat and go back to council in 12 months ( in our area you have to wait 12 months before going on list) and start bidding for houses

£200 is a lot of money to save, your bills including council tax are likely to be less than the house you now rent and you’d not have mould - hopefully

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:38

If the bedrooms are different sizes you could take the saner bedroom and put children in larger room

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:38

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 27/10/2022 07:34

If it's a council or HA tenancy then take it. I moved from a private rented house which I loved with garden, parking etc to a flat which I bought. The benefits of owning (and for you, secure tenancy) far outweigh the benefits of having a house IMO. Yes it's smaller and there are different neighbour issues to manage and it's a bit noisier but security for your kids is worth everything IMO!!

It’s housing association. Atm my current neighbour is awful, he moans about my kids playing in our house and walking up the stairs so that’s another factor to get away.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:39

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 27/10/2022 07:35

If you turn this down will you stay on the housing list or be bumped? You may not be offered anything better even if you stay on it

I’m not sure would have to ask that question. Most probably be put to the bottom of the list. We have only been on it a month so very lucky to get anything

OP posts:
Iheartmysmart · 27/10/2022 07:41

I live in a flat and love it. No children at home any more but I do have a dog. We go out to the park every day and the beach for days out. I see my neighbours quite frequently and have a quick chat with them. It’s so much easier being all on one level as well although I have to admit that’s probably because I’m lazy!

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:41

ivykaty44 · 27/10/2022 07:38

If the bedrooms are different sizes you could take the saner bedroom and put children in larger room

Yes would 100% give the boys the bigger bedroom. But as advertised on the council bidding it’s both double rooms so shouldn’t be too bad.
hopefully we would be able to exchange in the near future. My nan has a 3 bed council property and she was saying that maybe in a few years to do an exchange with her so 🤞🏻

OP posts:
Pebblebeach15 · 27/10/2022 07:43

I would take the security of the flat anyway . It will be yours and the boys to make into a family home and you don’t have to live with the uncertainty of having to move out , extortionate rent rises or maintenance not being carried out .
How often do the boys realistically use the garden across the whole year compared to time in their room ? Especially getting older I think a bigger room will be more important to them . You can still go to the park and have plenty of time outside as a family .

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 07:45

Pebblebeach15 · 27/10/2022 07:43

I would take the security of the flat anyway . It will be yours and the boys to make into a family home and you don’t have to live with the uncertainty of having to move out , extortionate rent rises or maintenance not being carried out .
How often do the boys realistically use the garden across the whole year compared to time in their room ? Especially getting older I think a bigger room will be more important to them . You can still go to the park and have plenty of time outside as a family .

That’s what my partner keeps saying that it’s better security and a big saving in money for us. The boys don’t use the garden a great deal, it’s half term atm and they haven’t been out in it once. I’m not a big green fingered person anyways so having no garden to maintain would be fab.
we have family who have gardens and a friend who will live on the next street also we can use hers in the summer.

OP posts:
SaintVal · 27/10/2022 07:57

When I divorced, the family house (three bed Victorian) was sold and I managed to get a new build two bedroom flat on shared ownership for me and DS7.

The bills are so much cheaper, the flats tend to be on the warm side. This morning the stat says 20 degrees and we've not even had the heating on yet!

I love the security - video entry system at main front door so you can see who's calling and thankfully, all my neighbours are ok.

The only times I miss the garden are maybe a few days in the summer when I used to sit outside with my morning coffee but my flat has a Juliet balcony and the sun streams through first thing.

No more lawn mowing, weeding and pruning!

Being able to save over £2000 a year is amazing! You'll soon build up a nice pot of cash. Go for it!

TheRealKatnissEverdeen · 27/10/2022 08:02

Take it. We are in for a bumpy ride economically in the UK
This will give you and the boys more security.
Pleased for you.

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 08:14

TheRealKatnissEverdeen · 27/10/2022 08:02

Take it. We are in for a bumpy ride economically in the UK
This will give you and the boys more security.
Pleased for you.

That’s very true! Thank you much appreciated

OP posts:
romdowa · 27/10/2022 08:26

It's always best to get your foot in the door with the council. Realistically how often do we really have the weather to use a garden? Far better to have a secure tenancy and a house that in is a decent standard. As you said your self, you could swap in the future , save to buy somewhere or even get a transfer. I always think people are crazy to turn down social housing unless it's in a ghetto or not suitable for them physically

WeAreAllDead · 27/10/2022 08:36

I haven’t had a garden for years, have 3DC.

One house was in a city centre with only a 5ft yard, but surrounded by huge parks. Current cottage is a weird one, with all the outside space belonging to neighbours. Less parks here (rural) but still not an issue.

You’ll never regret having a stable home that’s in a decent repair.

stayathomegardener · 27/10/2022 08:41

One thing stands out for me, mould!
So bad for everyone's health.
Flat like a shot.

Original poster
Dlc1991 · 27/10/2022 08:44

stayathomegardener · 27/10/2022 08:41

One thing stands out for me, mould!
So bad for everyone's health.
Flat like a shot.

Yes we have had the mould in our bedroom since moving here. I was in hospital last Tuesday after having an asthma attack and bad chest infection.
the houses are really old and my landlady brought me a dehumidifier which has done nothing.
so yes a very good point to get out

OP posts:
lightlypoached · 27/10/2022 08:44

Another one saying go for the move. Parks are wonderful for kids as they can socialise too.

I'd also advise that you set up a standing order straight away to move that £200 into an ISA that you can't easily touch - otherwise it will likely get frittered away with nothing to show for it. That will give you a nice pot of savings (which might come in handy if you do end up swapping with your Nan!)

Exciting 😊