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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Would you buy a house that has no parking?

117 replies

CheeryCherry · 27/02/2014 07:59

Its a stunning grade 2 listed house. No parking anywhere near. I think that is the main problem they are having with selling.
We currently have a drive and parking on street for 2 more cars. We have 2 cars.
DH not happy with parking issue. I don't care as I love the house

OP posts:

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CheeryCherry · 27/02/2014 10:46

OneEgg you make a lot of sense.
Thank you.

OP posts:

CelticPromise · 27/02/2014 11:28

We are not planning to move on anytime soon. I would like to grow old in this house although we will have to sort level access first.

We have a garage. And two cars and a motorbike. We think parking will only be an issue at school pick up and drop off and DH doesn't need to come and go at those times so he will park in the street and I will have the garage. There is a huge garden and we could perhaps create a drive if parking became an issue. A house further along has made a little layby.

It is going to be an absolute arse ache to move in though, or have anything delivered. High walls all around and only pedestrian gates. Argh.

Quangle · 27/02/2014 11:47

I actually prefer not being able to park in my street than the anxiety of tussling with neighbours over parking spaces. We just can't park here - end of. It's quite liberating in a way. But as I say, I am in C London so very much not-reliant on my car.

I think for me the real issue is that it potentially puts off other buyers - as this thread demonstrates. But as a day to day issue for me living here - it isn't one. Was an issue when the DCs were babies and I needed to both keep an eye on them and load up the car for some reason - but we are not at that stage now.

RelocatorRelocator · 27/02/2014 12:16

I'd consider it if there was plentiful on street parking and the road was reasonably quiet.

If not then it would put me right off I'm afraid (sorry!)

foxdongle · 27/02/2014 12:21

My first house had no parking. I had a car, my bf parked his car , then my sister moved in and her bf parked outside when he stayed, also friends and family.
we all had crap cars so no issue there. luckily we had a few elderly (car less) people around us. but now a lot of families live there and there are cars all over the pavements, bumper to bumper etc.

Wouldn't do it EVER again but at the time it was all I could afford.

Think carefully about the resale/future value- it's a deal breaker for many.

Onesleeptillwembley · 27/02/2014 12:25

You've been blinded. I guarantee you would regret it within a month.

Frettchen · 27/02/2014 12:29

Massively no, I'm afraid.

Parking is a huge issue for me in the house I'm just in the process of selling, and is near the top of the list of must haves as I embark upon a new house search. It's a nightmare; esp as I have to pass through an unlit alleyway to get to my house. But even without that; it's not fun to get utterly drenched when walking from front door to car in the pouring rain, or to struggle with boxes/shopping etc when unloading the car.

IME it's not a small thing you can get used to, but something you'll notice every time you come home.

mazylou · 27/02/2014 12:33

I live in a village with no assigned parking spaces - it's a bit of a free for all, but everyone is pretty good about it, and I had no trouble with skips/removal vans/tradesmen.

The local pub (less than a minute away) charges 50p a day to park, I believe. Yours may do the same. It can be a pain, but it wasn't a dealbreaker for me - it depends on your circumstances.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 27/02/2014 12:44

If you bought the house, where would you park? Could you live without a car in that location?

Is there any garden that can be converted to parking, or nearby land?

What would the impact be on your insurance if you are parking well away from your home overnight?

Is there NO onstreet parking (yellow lines) Would the parking situation be massively different at other times of year? Eg OK in winter, but impossible in the tourist season?

I wouldn't because it would be massively inconvenient, and there is also the issue that it would put people off and be hard to sell.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 27/02/2014 13:04

You only have to read the numerous parking threads on here to know that it is a bad idea.

nemno · 27/02/2014 13:08

I would never buy a place without parking.

Getting good tradesmen to want my business is hard enough without them being put off by problematic parking.

roadwalker · 27/02/2014 13:09

Never, not worth the hassle

drivinon9 · 27/02/2014 13:15

We live in a house without parking. There's on street parking (permits) and I can usually get a space (the odd time we have to park a street away).

It really doesn't bother me, as most houses/flats round here don't have drives or garages; it's the norm. However, we're really close to amenities (shops/leisure centre/park/school) so we don't have to use the car that often - and that would swing it for me. How important is the car in your life, and are you frequent users?

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 27/02/2014 13:19

So OP, now we've put you off, can we see the 'stunning grade 2 listed house'?

NorbertDentressangle · 27/02/2014 13:20

No I wouldn't buy it.

That's not to say you shouldn't but I think you do need to seriously think about the reality of it and not let your decision be clouded by the fact you've fallen for the house itself. Look at the wider picture.

As it's in a village location I'm presuming that (other than maybe trip to village pub or village shop) then you are going to have to use your car for work, visiting friends, school/college run for your DC, shopping trips, going out for meals/takeaways, any appointments (medical, financial etc) ...and so on.

Could you really be arsed to have to trek to the car streets away every time you go out, or have to drive round to find a space every time you come home?

Also, what happens when you're being a taxi service for your teens at unsociable hours? Late night pick ups may still involve you walking to your car, 200m away, in the early hours

Quenelle · 27/02/2014 13:25

Definitely not. We've had no off-road parking at previous houses and wouldn't do it again.

It's not just about being able to park next to your front door, if your car is halfway up the street could you easily wash it? Or do simple repairs that you wouldn't pay a garage to do? Or load it up for a camping trip?

VeryStressedMum · 27/02/2014 13:28

No, if the house didn't have a drive I probably wouldn't consider it because I have lived in places with street parking only - never again.

RestingActress · 27/02/2014 13:31

When the DC were younger it would have been a definite no-no for us, as difficult to unload toddlers/babies and other bags and then walk possibly some distance.

Now they are older and can get themselves in and out / carry stuff etc it wouldn't be such a deal-breaker for me.

There are usually ways round most things

carrying tonnes of shopping = online deliveries
washing car = car wash

Twilight23 · 27/02/2014 13:37

No.

Our house has no off street parking but 9 out of ten times we can park directly outside. Otherwise it is across the road or two houses down.

When we move I want off street parking for at least two cars.

FiveLeavesLeft · 27/02/2014 13:40

Just to add to my previous post, I'm in the same situation as drivinon9 and agree that a lot depends on your specific circumstances. We were completely carless for nigh on 20 years and not car dependent now (only one car/driver between us). We have the car for fun days out and to make life a bit easier - not out of absolute necessity.

It's often less hassle to leave the car behind than it is to walk to the car, load the DCs into the car and then have to find another spot on our return. However had we not saved money on our place due to its lack of parking, we would probably not have been able to afford our car (therefore ending up with a lovely driveway and nothing to park on it!)

If I was car-dependent and/or less keen on walking I might feel differently. It is undoubtedly going to put off future buyers and this would probably be the deal breaker for me if I was planning another move.

whatsagoodusername · 27/02/2014 13:49

Knock on the next door neighbour's house and ask them if they have trouble parking.

I would buy the pretty house with no parking, but we live in London, don't drive and don't have a car. I'd view parking as a bonus, but was never a requirement.

purpleshinyone · 27/02/2014 14:26

If it's possible to somehow create parking in the large garden, sounds like it would add an awful lot of money and create an easy sale in the future - in that case, definitely go for it.

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YouAreTalkingRubbish · 27/02/2014 21:34

The NO vote is deafening!

Preferthedogtothekids · 27/02/2014 23:36

whispers NO!

minipie · 28/02/2014 00:17

Wow! can't believe how precious so many people are about off street parking. I've never had it, it's never been an issue.

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