Experience of teenage girls bedroom in garden build?

[Putyourfeetup]

We live in a lovely yet inner city Victorian street. We have four daughters in a 3 bed house and the eldest is fourteen. We are in desperate need for more living space (4 year old twins currently in 2nd reception room). Unable to afford a loft conversion, currently we are contemplating a build at the bottom of our small garden to create a bedroom/hangout for eldest with storage space. The twins could then move into her room thus freeing up much needed communal living space downstairs at relatively low cost. DH is concerned for daughters safety saying he wouldn't be so concerned if it was for a boy. His concerns mainly lie in 'weirdos' figuring out she is in there and trying to get in. It is however an enclosed square of gardens and only overlooked by a few houses. Also we are aware of building regs and that such spaces should only be used for occasional use. Just wanted to gauge what people think about the safety/appropriateness/pitfalls of a teenage girl living in a space a short distance from the house. If you have any experience of it even better...trying to figure out if it is a realistic plan...thanks x

Original poster I really do understand your problems from my own childhood but I would just let them share and continue to save for a loft conversion

The more I think about this, the more I think you could gain space by getting some of the girls to share. My 3yo and 8yo share a bedroom (and then have a separate playroom), so 5 years is, in my experience, and okay difference for sharing. If you gave the largest bedroom to the youngest three, then you move into the second largest and 14yo has the smallest bedroom (on the grounds that she has exams coming up and thus needs her own space to work). There are plenty of interesting bed combinations out there so you can get three singles into one room, either as a triple bunk or two singles with a bunk over. That way you get you reception room back, and if you really need more space, then build a shed as a playden (so it won't be used overnight), although you might get away without and instead could save for a proper loft conversion.

For examples of 'odd' bunk beds see: Dorest Pine 'l-spaced triple'] or [[http://bestbunkbeds.co.uk/triple-bunk-beds/morpheus-triple-bunk-bed Morpheus triple bunk or wooden triple bunk or babysitter bunk.

Thanks for the more reasonable, empathetic and understanding comments toughasoldboots etc. Tired of reading the condescending judgemental ones. We are considering all our options including having the younger ones share and would never put any of our children in a shed. I think it is hard for siblings to share when they are at opposite ends of puberty. The twins have major sleep issues still and would wake the 9 year old once or twice a night, though once this is sorted out could be a solution IssyStark - thanks for link-will look into it. We bought our house three months before discovering I was carrying two babies. Anyone who has had twins with two older children will tell you floggingmolly that life quickly becomes a day to day (often hour to hour) coping strategy and long term planning often goes on the back burner... I hope some of you manage a bit more empathy and a little less judgement in your real life interactions. Yes I did ask for opinions, was just surprised at how reactionary they were. Have a good day all.

cant believe op is getting such a hard time

because it's so easy to move,i think its still a reasonable idea,op keep looking into it if your still keen on the idea

I'm currently sitting in the kind of structure you seem to be thinking about OP. You would need planning permission for it, as this one did.

We paid about £14k for the first stage of our loft conversion - included stairs, dormer, windows and framing and insulation and the chipboard floor. Could you do that for now and then manage the electrics/plastering later? If you do the scaffolding bits all in one go, you can save money and do it a bit at a time. We had a stair gate on the new stairs until it was completely finished to keep our toddlers out. If you ask a few loft conversion companies how much they charge to do a shell, you might find you can afford it. Then you can always have a sort of hideaway up there for your 14 year old web before its completely finished.

Hi OP - we have built a proper garden room in a London terrace garden (to use as a music rehearsal room). I have to say it was a lot more than 7K - closer to 22K by the time all extras factored in(still cheaper than moving in London) for a 4m square structure, and we went for one of the most reasonably priced companies. It is well insulated (cosier than the rickety Victorian house!) but no plumbing etc, and can get stuffy (also requires an air conditioner, which can be expensive to run). Others are correct to say planning regs won't allow for sleeping out in it. We love it, but as a music/work space. Btw the only way the construction people were able to get the kit on site was because there is a break in the terrace next to a house behind us so they could bring it all in through there rather than through the house. I am sure a very basic loft conversion would not be much more.

When I asked about a garden room bring built in the garden of a terraced house, I was told by the company that they use a crane to lift all the materials into place.

I would be wary because of the safety issues. I wouldn't feel comfortable with my child out there even though we have similar space issues (not judging, just saying). A friend did similar with an older son and there were issues with a difficult neighbour. We can't face moving and are considering halving one of our bigger rooms so they have their own space if only enough for a bed and tiny bit of storage, and if needs be, would have a garden room for storage of their things/hang out room etc. Good luck!

Thank you for your genuinely helpful comments... Given me lots of food for thought. Am now exploring some new ideas about room swapping/sharing/kitchen extensions... :-)

Similar, but different- we live in a funny house with two sets of stairs. Our daughter moved to the bedroom up the other stairs when she was 14. It has been fine in many ways BUT it is a pain in the mornings to get her up, it reduces our awareness of what she is doing ie homework til all hours, or staying on-line until silly o'clock. She is a good girl, but if she wasn't it would be too much freedom imho. All in all I wouldn't recommend it.