Will I be mad to swap my Victorian house for this flat?

[nothappywithhome]

Hi, I am an owner of 2 bed Victorian house in not-so posh part of London (wouldn't think of living here long-term). I bought the house quite recently, had to invest more than I planned to fix basic things, and would have to spend much more to make it nice. However, I never loved the house as such, although it ticked all boxes.. as painful as it is we have decided to sell, we were thinking to sell some time anyway, but decided sooner than later.

Obviously we will need to buy something. I am not very fussy about "character" of a property. The most important things are location, good primary schools and good space. And low maintenance! Garden would be nice, but it comes at much higher price. I found this on Rightmove, which does not look very attractive outside, but is nice inside. Would it be a mad choice given that most people like old houses, and I would be exchanging a house to a flat? I could afford little more expensive, but it would just buy another flat with a little better looking exterior, and I am not sure if it is worth it.

Opinions needed!

Mad

is the flat ex local authority? In which case every seven years they'll do a maintenance programme and you'll get a very big bill.. My mum lives in an ex la property and this is a problem she has, last bill was over £16k for her neighbours having new kitchens, windows and bathrooms installed, she didn't get any of that but still got a bill. On top of that will be service charges every year

I would love to live in a flat.....Imagine things to be so much easier ..... cleaning our 4 bed house is such a PITA and FIL has a lovely 3 bed Flat that is so easy to look after

Why don't you rent if you don't like doing the DIY. All houses need maintenance, even new build you will have snagging issues . However, trying to get a landlord to sort out slug/damp issues can by tricky.

Why do you have to love this house, live in it for a while long, wait to hope that the housing market recovers and move on.

Maybe you made the wrong choice, maybe you didn't - I think often couples end up compromising so neither like the house that much!

I would not move in this housing market unless you want to rent unless you have to. I have to and its not been fun.

Guys I think I need to separate two things here: not loving my house which must go, and getting a new place. Maybe that flat is not the best option, but it is in a good location. If I would want a house, I would need to compromise on location & schools, which I don't want to do. There are some houses out there which are "ugly" outside but could be OK inside (like this for example), but again the nearest school is not very good from Ofsted report. By the way, it may look ugly to most of you, but for me it does not matter as long as it's warm and cozy and low-maintenance inside!
I hear your point of hassle with a management company or noise but I am hoping that there are houses where you don't get too many problems.. I would just need to find the one.

MaryMotherOfCheeses, Garden would be a huge benefit but if to put my preference, school/location would go above garden. If I get some ground floor apartment with patio out of the living room, I would be very happy.

kayah, thanks for posting the links. Unfortunately I could not open any of these!

UnrequitedSkink, my house could be worth if I fix the problems and improve the condition, but at the moment I am just fixing the problems (didn't anticipate when I bought it) and can't afford any improvements, and I am not ready to be spending my last penny for the house for the next five years... In addition, my OH is not very helpful in this, he does not DIY, so it is also a physical and emotional load on me to get everything sorted (tired).

tittybangbang, I wish I had bought something similar instead of my house at the first place! However, I am from this area, and given a chance I would like to move away from it. It is OK at the moment when the children are small, but I am not keen on staying here when my children grow up to teenagers, so I rather move now.

Pannacotta, I am trying to sort out the damp at the moment. Even if the house holds value as you say, by that time I would probably have spent too much to make even.

Frrrrightattendant - where are all those people queuing for my house :)

Yes exexpat is right about the charges. I nearly bought an ex-LA flat and the EA said to me on the way out that as he liked me (and knew I was really stretching myself) he thought I shouldn't go to the expense of putting in an offer as he knew they were about to charge every single privately owned flat £7k for fixing the roof and that was nearly 10 years ago. You have no control over what works they decide to do or when.

Hear your point about ex-council flats. Would avoid it.

Don't get a flat with young children, there are almost always restrictions on use of a garden, no ball games, not really allowed to do much outside. Plus all the mgmt co's fees and also refurb etc.

Just a warning, which you probobly know anyway, but I thought I did and was shocked- the cost of moving is just ridiculous- what with estate agents fees, solicitors fees, buying out your mortgage deal if you need to,removal, storage moving from a house to a flat as well as redoing your new place to your tastes. The first parts just seem like money down the drain and runs into thousands. At least if you spent it on your house you may get it back if you sell later.

I have to say, I agree with the majority here, I wouldn't go for the flat over the house under any circumstances. I've lived in a flat and in that whole time, I would've given my right arm for somewhere with a garden and a private entrance. You take such a chance with neighbours in a flat and even with good ones, you will almost certainly get unwanted noise coming in. If I was you, I would much rather spend time and money (assuming I had it) fixing up the house I have, rather than compromising and ending up in a small flat over a Victorian house.

noeyedear, I count 10k for relocation costs, I hope I am not far from the truth...

I say if you hate your house, sell it fast. I had the dream house five years ago, everyone else's dream that is, not mine. It was massive, four floors, baby felt far too far away when i was cooking and he was sleeping, the doorbell rang every night at 11pm and I had NO doorbell. As soon as I walked over the threshold a gloom descended on me. I could go on, I just despised it, and it despised me.

Sold it, got a massive flat, can see the little guy or hear him wherever i am, its easy to clean/maintain and I have never been happier.

Of course, the old neighbours think I'm mad, but what price peace of mind.

Oh and have never, ever missed the garden. We never did use it, felt too alone there, preferred to go out for a walk.

Dh doesn't miss all the lawnmowing and the endless DIY trips and jobs. Victorian houses can be money pits and eat up time, so you need to love them if you are going to live in them.

perfumedlife, is it what I think it is, i.e. no doorbell but it was ringing? what a horror story...
My house is not as bad because it has two down, two up :) however I do not feel safe here, I don't trust this house is to protect me. Thanks for giving your opinion, this is exactly how I feel.
Was it difficult to choose your flat? How did you know it was the one, and you will feel OK in the flat?

I would have moved pretty much anywhere to get out of that house. Only when I left did the neighbours tell me the full extent of horror within. The previous owner but one killed himself by hanging from the cuppola, trauma from war I think. The previous owners divorced mid renovate, couldn't explain why they broke up but they got back together after leaving.

In desperation whilst living there, I went to see a psychic who told me to get out of there asap, and def no later than August of that year. 31st August I almost died post surgery on my thyroid, and my health is now very compromised. Am on 14 pills a day just to live.

I am a rational person, I tell you this because I know in my heart that this house made me ill. There was just such a bad atmosphere. My mother refused to come in for a coffee.

Went to see a flat in a converted college that I believed had lots of landlord rentals. People advised against it, thought it would lower the tone. But next door to me in the posh house, the neighbours moved and let their drug addict son stay for free, so it doesn't really matter where you go, neighbours can be crap anywhere.

The flat is enormous. As soon as I walked in I knew it was home. In fact I studied in it when it was a college. I can fit a baby grand piano, two sofas, massive dining table, desk, armoire in the living room and still hold a dance in the space. Ok I dont have massive bedrooms but we all do our living in the main room and only sleep in the bedrooms. I feel so happy here, I can see my son wherever he is, I see more of my dh as he is not on endless B&Q trips and we have friends round often who love it.

I used to see property as an investment, unti the last place. Now it must be home, first and foremost. Op you need to feel safe and homely, if you find a flat that makes you feel that way, go for it.

I understand people who love and need a garden, it's just not for me. Ds and I were always out on jaunts, gardens felt too quiet for me.

I think you should look at a few places you previously wouldn't have considered. It might just surprise you.

Hi all

Just wanted to post my advice on this. Have you checked out www.upmystreet.com/carshalton.html for more info about the area? It has all the details you need about schools, pubs, neighbours etc. I used it when I brought my house in Leicester a few years ago. If you want any advice on restrictions on flats and general legal advice (free!) I work for a conveyancing company and my friend Sara is a legal adviser. email me if you want any help I can find out answers for you...[email protected]

You can find out how much conveyancing/solicitor fees will cost at www.1stpropertylawyers.co.uk
Hope this helps!

I am replying to my own post here. Had viewings of a couple of cheapish 2-bed maisonettes in a supposedly good area. One was spacious & nice inside, but in a former council estate and the estate didn't look attractive at all (maybe wrong impression). Another one was a post-war built maisonette with a garden, the area was nice but the maisonette was small - size of one floor of my Victorian house..
Decided to hold on for the time being, and not to go into selling-buying hassle until absolutely necessary.. Obviously I will make the move when the times comes, but probably is not the right time yet..

Mad mad mad unless you are being forced too..... no contest

I would definitely choose a flat over a house if it's close to a nice park, in a good area with good schools, transport links, etc.

You do need to watch out for the extra charges/years on the lease etc. so it could be more of a pain, but purely for quality of life there are more important things than having a garden.