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Original poster

Which would you choose..........(sorry long)

56 replies

nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:13

I'll apologise in advance for the fact that i'm on here moaning about housing probs again, I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about it now, i know i am

Anyway what i want to know is this :

Imagine you have to choose between these two properties.
Property 1 is a masionette above a row of shops. It has all the room that you need, but no central heating, double glazing or garden. However, although on a council estate the local schools (just off the estate) are excellant, especially the secondary schools. People frequently move to the area just to get in to the schools.

Property 2 is a 3 bed house on another slightly more dodgy council estate, with double glazing, central heating and a garden. The primary school results are o.k but the secondary school is crap.

If you had to choose which would you pick. Basically you are choosing between having a garden or being able to send your kids to a very good secondary school.

Meant to add that Property 1 is in the area that you live in now, so kids wouldn't have to move schools and would still be near to relatives and friends.
Property 2 is about 4 mile from property 1 but kids would need to move schools and be bus ride away from family and friends.

OP posts:
GeorginaA · 24/02/2004 21:14

Meant to add - it's tough, isn't it?

We've moved recently (well, okay, over 6 months ago now, but it still feels very recent!!!!) and it's so horribly stressful, and we were incredibly lucky that we had more "control" over where we were going. I don't think anyone ever finds the "ideal" place to live - there's always compromises somewhere down the line.

hugs

From the sounds of it, neither choice would be a disasterous decision - if that helps any.

twiglett · 24/02/2004 21:54

message withdrawn

Bond33 · 24/02/2004 22:00

If your friend is convinced that they will eventually knock the Maisonettes' down and you are happy to live there then the chances of you getting a nice house in a nice area are increased if the council do demolish them. In the nearest town to me the Council knocked down a whole estate and the residents (including a few of my friends) were given a list of available properties and properties soon to be available and they were able to choose where they wanted to move to. Some wanted to stay in the area and so were moved to a nearby estate but others moved to nicer areas and the council were very accommodating as the sooner they got them out the sooner they could knock them down. So that could be a bonus and even if they don't knock them down you are more likely to find someone willing to exchange if you live in a good area. As for the central heating when you move in insist that they install central heating and demand a date as soon as possible, if they refuse contact trading standards and find out your position as the property must be up to a certain standard and Central heating is now a basic need. Tough decision but I would also choose property one as there seems to be a get out clause by exchanging, would you want to move to a dodgy estate if you wanted an exchange from a nice area, you are having reservations and you are desperate to move. Saying that though I lived on a considered to be rough Council Estate for 2 years and some of the people were the nicest you could ever wish to meet, they looked out for you and were always there to listen or do a favour and I missed that when I bought a house, the community spirit at my new house was non-existent. Its a hard decision there are good and bad point to both Why not write a list weighing up the pro's and cons your children may also be able to give you some imput although the 4yr old may be a bit biased towards having a garden. Sorry to have rabbled on Take Care

WSM · 24/02/2004 22:07

I'd go for number 1 without a doubt. I know you'd be sacrificing a garden but i think that the schooling is far more important, after all I'm sure there's green space somewhere near you that the kids can play on. I know prop 1 also lacks central heating and d/glazing but I would move in and then harass your council endlessly (contact your local MP etc) about getting them fitted.

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 23:29

The concern about the lack of central heating is because dd2 has asthma and one of the biggest triggers is cold air. We have to have the heating on full all night where we are now (in the winter)as if it goes to cold in her room, she starts coughing. Ds may also have asthma.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 25/02/2004 08:17

Property 1 - as long as you have a park / recreation area nearby

handlemecarefully · 25/02/2004 08:21

Re the heating - you can get reasonably priced 'stand alone' safe modern mobile heating units for the house these days. I think they are reasonably cheap to run...

noddy5 · 25/02/2004 09:09

I live in a maisonette above a shop at the moment and they are renowned for being warm due to the shops below we have certainly found this.Is there a park nearby?We have a park v close and have made full use of it.I personally would always go with the better schools

Janstar · 25/02/2004 09:12

I lived in a flat with no garden for a while and it did my head in. But, I think I would still pick the flat because of the other benefits. Move into the flat and seek another move within the area.

LIZS · 25/02/2004 11:42

nutty

Would the council consider putting in a form of heating given your kids' health issues, even basic storage heaters ? tbh I'd go for no.1 even without that or a garden. We have no garden (1st floor) but there is a communal play area and grass outside. If you are thinking long term then 1 sounds better imho

jennifersofia · 25/02/2004 14:07

Property 1 I think. It sounds from your original description that 1 is the one that you are leaning towards.

Original poster
nutcracker · 25/02/2004 14:10

Right, this is really doing my head in now. My mom said go for property 1 and my dad said if you pick that grotty masionette then your mad. I haven't actually been offered either yet, but the masionette is definatlt empty so there is a very high chance of me getting it.
I always knew i'd have to make a compromise somewhere, so i shouldn't be surprised.
My dd overheard us talking about it and said "you promised us a garden" . God i feel like such a terrible mother. I can't even find my kids a nice place to live.
I have to be honest, and say that i'm not sure i could cope without a garden, especially judging by last summer.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 25/02/2004 14:17

Nutty any chance you could somehow make a roof garden? I guess you would need rails a mile high to be safe though

Nightmare dilemma - why don't you take no 1 as it looks available and then try and swap with someone who has a garden and doesn't want one, eg an old lady.

Original poster
nutcracker · 25/02/2004 14:19

If i'm honest, no one would swap to property no 1, the council have trouble getting people on the waiting lists to accept them. So there would be no chance of an exchange. There is a small balcony area, but it's on the back of the masionette, wher the front door is.
I can't belive after waiting this long i'm still not going to get something i'm happy with

OP posts:
Debbiethemum · 25/02/2004 14:23

Sorry to be different, but I would be inclined to go for property 2. Mainly because of the garden.

Who knows what the secondary schools will be like in 6 years or so, nearly every single child at those schools at the moment will have left. We are also house hunting at the moment but concentrating on primary schools - reception in September. I do know I couldn't live without a garden.

However our need to move is not as bad as Nutcrackers and we could move again if we had to when the time comes for secondary schools.

momof2 · 25/02/2004 14:26

Nutty - regarding the garden - do you have a park nearby? We have a tiny piece of lawn, but across the road we have a large park which we take the girls to especially in the summer evenings. Could this be a compromise to having a garden for the kids?

GeorginaA · 25/02/2004 14:27

nutcracker - did you find the ofsted report for the school near property no. 2? I didn't think the league table results were different enough that you couldn't span the gap by being an interested parent at home.

Janh · 25/02/2004 14:31

nutty, if you do go for no 2 you'll have 5 years (until DD is 11) to work on moving to somewhere even better!

Only two things possibly against it right now as far as I can see:

what you said about No 1 having "all the room that you need" - how does No 2 compare?

the estate being "slightly more dodgy" - in what way?

Original poster
nutcracker · 25/02/2004 14:43

O.k, property number 2 is on Castle Vale, an estate which used to be a big no no but has had alot of money plouged in to it and has improved slightly. I have been told that i would definatly only be offered a house on there as they don't belive in putting people in with kids in flats ( some sense at last). The older houses on there are quite big. It would have 3 beds e.t.c. The newer houses are a bit smaller but big enough.
i'm getting a headache just thinking about it.

OP posts:
Crunchie · 25/02/2004 15:36

I'd go property 2 personally. Your kids are young and therefore the garden would be so nice for them. 4 miles away is not far (although if you only have public transport it could be) so they will still see family and friends. I understand the school is an issue, but it is a few years away and things do change.

I know I am in the minority suggesting No2, but I go for the here and now, not future. No2 offers you a garden, heating, and these are important NOW

CountessDracula · 25/02/2004 15:38

Nutty can't you say no and wait for something that is suitable?

Janh · 25/02/2004 15:50

So there isn't a specific No 2 house yet? Do you have to give them a decision before you know exactly which house you would get?

katzguk · 25/02/2004 16:08

i know nothing about council housing but round us people who own there own houses can qualify for grants to install new boilers, and other energy saving stuff such as double glazing would this be possible with property number 1?

cazzybabs · 25/02/2004 16:48

That's really tough. But in six years the good school could go downhill and the bad school could really improve. all it needs its is a few staffing changes and a new head and bobs your uncle. Go with your heart. Its your house where you will spend most of your time.

secur · 25/02/2004 16:54

Message withdrawn

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