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Original poster

would you move from a house to a flat?

35 replies

Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 18:18

We need to seriously downsize our outgoings, because I want to be a SAHM for the next two or three years at least. We have sold our house and moved into a lovely small town where our son has his school place sorted for Sept. We're currently renting but don't want to be off the property ladder too long.

I just don't want to get trapped into a big mortgage as we are a small family (won't be having any more children, only have the one). So we only need a two bedroom place. We have seen a flat for sale that we could get just on my DH's salary, it's a converted large-ish detached house and the first floor flat is available. It comes with a garage and use of the fron and side gardens which are pretty big, not huge but useable.

Would you think this was a silly backward step? Does anyone live in this kind of house converted into two flats and is it OK or a nightmare?? Would love to know what you think!

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SheilaBlige · 03/03/2006 18:25

I moved from a house to a flat last year and it's been fine, in fact I love my flat!

noddyholder · 03/03/2006 18:27

Owning property is never a backward step nor is cutting your outgoings

chicagomum · 03/03/2006 18:32

One thing to bear in mind when buying a flat that is a converted house rather than purpose built is sound proofing. If its not adequate (which is the case in a lot of the older/bigger houses) and your neihbours (or you for that matter) aren't particularly quiet it can be a major headache.

inkyminky · 03/03/2006 18:32

We are in a 2 bed flat at the moment and love the ease of cleaning and having no stairs is such a blessing, it's always warm and cosy too. However we are moving to a house as even if the neighbours come in quetly (they are about 80 yrs old) the smallest sounds are waking up baby throughout the day and night. If your only going to have one neighbour I would be inclined to do a bit of detective work on their work/social habits etc first if you can. In the summer you will probably have the gardens all you yourself in the daytime too if they work f/time!

Hayls · 03/03/2006 19:01

My mum and dad moved to somewhere similar to what you describe when I was about 12 and I have 3 younger siblings. They moved from a semi detached house. They love the extra space they have (very big detached house, double drive, gardens front and back and big entrance hall) and have no intentions of moving even now. They get on really well with the neighbours and if you're on the top florr you shouldn't hear much from them anywya (they'll hear you tho)

expatinscotland · 03/03/2006 19:04

NO WAY. We're in a flat just now w/a 2.8 year old and a baby and it's intensely wearing. HATE it. It sux so big time I dream of the semi-detached I owned in Denver and wake up w/tears in my eyes.

expatinscotland · 03/03/2006 19:05

Yes, chicagomum brings up a great point: being surrounded by neighbours on all sides is yet another thing that blows about flat-living, among so many.

Hausfrau · 03/03/2006 19:07

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Blu · 03/03/2006 19:08

I would be reluctant to live in anything leasehold again, I think, because of lack of control over maintenance costs, and/or having to negotiate finances with neighbours.

Would prefer to be on the ground floor with kids - but then worry about noise above.

expatinscotland · 03/03/2006 19:12

Amen, Hausfrau! You're singing my song.

Kelly1978 · 03/03/2006 19:13

I moved from a flat to a house three months ago and my first thought when I saw the title was NO! Having read on though it sounds like a good choice. If I could afford to buy a flat then I would (we rent) and it has a garage and garden so the storage and speace is sorted! I did like living in a flat, though would only ever live top floor (noise). The only reasons I hated it was lack of garden and storage. Go for it!
My uncle had a set up like yours except half the garden was his and half was the neighbours. It went back quite far and he had the rear part. It worked out really well for them, they got on fine. They had a baby too. I would agree with chatting to the neighbour if you can.

foxinsocks · 03/03/2006 19:14

I agree with chicago, check out the sound proofing. I've lived in loads of flats and a few houses and I never minded living in flats.

The last flat we were in, we were in the top floors of a converted house. We didn't have a garden and the stairs were a bit of a pain but other than that, because we were on top, we only had to contend with noise from below and as the kids slept on the top floor, that was never a problem (and we had great neighbours anyway).

I also agree that leasehold living is a pain - one thing I don't miss is negotiating finances for upkeep of the outside so I would thoroughly check out how up to date all of that is (your lawyer should look into that all anyway).

franke · 03/03/2006 19:14

I think as long as you have the garden and only one child you may like it. We moved from a house to a flat a couple of years ago when dd was about 15mo and I was pregnant with ds. It was actually a real relief - no more chasing dd up and down stairs, worried sick she's going to fall or wondering where she is adn just generally having a much easier space to deal with than a two storey house. We didn't have a garden and once ds grew up a bit, it did all become a bit cramped which is why we've now moved to a house again! I would have said that perhaps a ground floor garden flat might be better, but also agree with whoever said that on the first floor you'd be less likely to be bothered by neighbour noise. As long as it ticks enough boxes for you, I deffo wouldn't see it as a step backwards.

franke · 03/03/2006 19:16

Also the last time I owned a flat (we rented last time) all the leaseholders got together and bought the freehold - worked out really well and much cheaper on maintenance costs.

batters · 03/03/2006 19:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 19:47

ooh thanks for all the thoughts guys! I will definitely try and speak to the lady who lives in the flat downstairs - I believe she is a single mum so shouldn't be too many parties!! Soundproofing is something I had wondered about.

Apparently if we buy this flat we get the freehold of the whole house (so the downstairs lady is a leaseholder) I can't quite get my head around this so I guess would need to check it out with a solicitor.

Thanks for all positive and negative thoughts, it helps me to think it through realistically as I am quite apt to 'fall in love' with places a bit fast!

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Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 19:48

meant to say batters that post of yours really made me lol!

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Hulababy · 03/03/2006 20:06

It really depends on your flat. The size is important as when all on one floor it can seem more cramped than on seperate floors. And the sound proofing is very important, especially in non-purpose built flats.

I have lived in a flat (or apartment we called it Wink ) and only moved out last September. It was a large 2 bed modern, purpose built one. I loved it. It was city living which was good for us. But it was the ease I find so good. All on one floor so even when DD was tiny she was able to play in her room and round and about no rpobelms. i had no stairs to be concerned with. We had all easy to clean materials/surfaces throughout.

I did enjoy our life in our apartment. It was great :)

Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 20:21

thanks hula. I also love the idea of living on one floor, much more family friendly I reckon. Glad to hear it was so positive for you.

I just want to think this through so carefully because I don't want to make a mistake, having just moved our son to rented accommodation, I don't want to move again and then again if it's wrong. But it would be so so fab to be a SAHM - and to have the pressure off financially as it's been nothing but a struggle since our DS was born.

I guess, having read all these posts, that my next stop is to meet the lady in the flat downstairs and check her out!

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Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 20:23

The other tempting thing is that the house is a really lovely 1930's detached in a 'genteel' road that we would never be able to even look at if we were looking at a house rather than a flat.....

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kama · 03/03/2006 20:41

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Earlybird · 03/03/2006 20:59

I live in a flat, and love it. I'm on the top floor, so no problems with "overhead elephants". There were some initial problems with thin walls, but that has now been rectified. It's great to have everything on one floor, and not constantly run up/down stairs.

I love not having to worry about security. If there's a strange noise in the night, I'm never afraid. I can sleep with windows/balcony door open in summer without a second thought.

I also love not having to deal with exterior maintenance issues. I pay a service charge, and someone else deals with the things that need doing. Obviously, I must still handle things inside the flat that need attention, but that is manageable.

I love the idea of a garden, but don't want to do the manual labour. To me, it's like outdoor housework. So, I enjoy my balcony, and do the flower boxes and a few pots - and they give me an absurd amount of pleasure - and leave it at that. I sometimes wonder if dd would like a garden, but know that as an only child, she probably wouldn't go out there on her own without me.

So, all in all, I'd say that flat living is rather wonderful. Now, all I need is a bigger flat! Grin

Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 21:03

great to hear some people love flats so much!! I suppose a bit of me is worried that some friends and family will think we've lost our marbles, selling a 3 bed house (tho it was small!) to go to a two bed upstairs flat....

thing is I'm looking around and for the same money the sort of house we could afford is a tiny two bedroom modern house where tbh I know the walls are at least as thin as they would be in a flat....

Anyone know how soundproofing is done if we need to go down that road???

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lockets · 03/03/2006 21:05

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Original poster
Sparklemagic · 03/03/2006 21:36

thanks lockets....location location, eh!

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