Downsizing, any rightmove enthusiasts?

[Solasum]

My parents are in a very characterful house that is now too big for them with too much garden and too many stairs. They are tentatively considering moving to something more futureproof, but don't want to live somewhere with no character.

Any suggestions? Of places, or specific properties?

Must have parking for 2 cars on or off road and a manageable garden, 3 beds ideal, a decent sized kitchen, ideally somewhere with farmers market and Waitrose within a short drive, easy journey to London (ideally into Victoria, Waterloo or Paddington). In terms of other living space, ideally adaptable for someone very elderly in the future, so either downstairs bathroom/bedroom or possibility of stair lift. Not too surrounded by other people as they like their privacy. And hospital within reasonable distance.

Any one?

Noenemee I really like the Tunbridge Wells cottage, will send my mum a link.

Not a pretty house, but amazing views and a feeling of space. And Garson's is fantastic for PYO!

This is a prettier but smaller version

Claygate here or here might be an option?

This house outside Godalming looks good for getting older in: purpose built downstairs accomodation, but has a proper upstairs too

Do they need to be near a town centre? Will they continue to drive? Tunbridge Wells is horribly busy - Frant itself has nothing there, they'd need to drive into town for everything, and would have to wait in traffic, and then for parking etc. My parents live there and it is increasingly worrying that they drive at all. Even with a blue badge my mum struggles to get out. The traffic is so busy, and parking so hard to find that she sometimes can't make it to a shop even if she leaves the house.

What about this groundfloor flat in Oxted: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48366261.html

Slightly above budget but easily maintained garden, hospital in Redhill isn't too far, plenty of shops, cafes and a Waitrose local....

I'd love to live in a bungalow - I'm in my late 40s, but then I loved living in a flat. (We live in a townhouse so I don't know how that happened.)

Oh love that Oxted flat.

Where are their family and friends? Surely that is incredibly important as they get older?

Chichester & the Wittering is fab. Emsworth is good too. Great theatre in Chichester, Waitrose, coupe of galleries, beach for lovely walks, Victoria in an 1hr20 (from Havant) and loads & loads of bungalows. Also plenty of walking clubs, bridge, Goodwood, etc. You don't need stairs to keep fit if you have lovely walks on your doorstep.

Oops sorry for typos!

that Oxted flat is gorgeous, nice area, but the road is quite a steep hill (down into town, up back home again). Plus from memory it's off an unmade road which could prove tricky in the winter if yo'r'e older.

All of the (adult) children are in London, with their own families, further family are in Sussex and Hampshire. We'd all be able to visit much more often (and help, down the line) if they were nearer than they were. My mum would be very happy to move into a tiny flat in London, but dad really wouldn't.

Apparently my dad has now said he'd consider Scotland, Devon or Cornwall. Mum is pretty frustrated :(

I guess the appeal of Devon and Cornwall could well be the sea though, so maybe Chichester environs would work. Mum also has friends in Brighton, but not sure how doable that would be for retirement, as it always seems quite young when I visit?

Oh dear, it's going to be like shooting fish in a barrel isn't it.

Do you think it's best to make them narrow down to a sensible and practical location (for everyone concerned) and then property hunt, or find them the ideal property and hope the location suits well?

Can they both make a list of their priorities and then see how many points overlap for a master list.

I'm throwing this into the mix just because I think it's utterly charming
Near Petersfield

The Oxted apartment looks beautiful but from what the OP says about privacy, I can't really see the parents going for semi communal living.
It's so hard to want privacy as people age but want their independence. It's private yet not isolated that they need.

@KickAssAngel that's a sorry situation for your parents and I can understand your concerns. I was imagining the OP's to be out and about a bit more and if not, to use taxis seeing as Frant's so close to town if indeed they wanted the town. We don't find the traffic as horrendous as a lot of people say, but use a couple of back routes and go at off peak times, or take the train of course. There are lots of other villages and market towns close by too with all the things that the OP's parents seem to be looking for.

I was attracted by this as well as the property itself.
Village Hall website which list art lessons, yoga, film club, flower club, Amdram, gardening group and and the fact that there is a Post Office with small store and a hairdresser and beauty salon plus two pubs, one of which has recently been totally refurbished. There's cricket on the green and crown bowling too for the better weather.

@Solasum I'm not an estate agent or know the properties I've posted, but I do have experience of relocating and trying to find the home to fit the bill, together with all the emotions of giving up a home and facing the downsize challenge. If I can add any more feel free to ask or pm me, it's an evolutionary process and will take lots of twists and turns to get them sorted.

Very interesting seeing this thread, I nearly started one the other day as DP and I are wondering about moving somewhere more old age friendly eventually - but we are in inner London and will most likely stay here. Considerations for me are: outside space that is easily maintained; no more than two floors; public transport close by; and most importantly, somewhere that, when one of us dies, the surviving partner could continue to live in alone if they wanted to. Being bereaved and having to sort out a big place, get rid of loads of stuff etc. seems very hard to me.

Bloodybridget I agree entirely. I think central London is a great place to be old.

Noenemee thanks so much for all your insight. I agree that semi communal living wouldn't suit them at all.

My mother and I share the fear that my dad will drag his feet until something happens, a fall or similar, and then it won't be possible for them to cope at all in their current house, and he will end up having to go into a home, which he would loathe.

Don't underestimate being part of a community though - the help of friends and neighbours can be a lifeline allowing people to stay in their home as they become more frail.

I think they need to decide, not on the house, but in the way they want to live. Do they want to start again somewhere new or do they have good lives where they are- friends, active in local groups- in which case a down size locally would be best. If starting again then drawing up a list of what they want from life, rather than a house should be their first plan of attack!

Stroud has all these things. There are lovely larger houses out of the town at anything up to £1.5m, you would get something very splendid indeed nearer the town for £600k. You mentioned specifically farmers market and Waitrose. Newland Homes are doing a lovely development of houses at Bowbridge Wharf that we have looked at and you can drive or cycle along the canal towpath to Waitrose and the farmers market very easily, of walk right into town in a quarter of an hour.

Hitchin?
Comes into Kings Cross tho (30 mins) but soon the trains will be going via St Pancras and will continue down to Gatwick.
Lots of bungalows that are walking distance to the lovely town centre (market, Waitrose, Lido). Also more central flats. The town hall has big band dance evenings. Lots of great cafes and restaurants. Good country walks.

Forgot to add Letchworth (UK's first garden city) is right next door with an Art Deco cinema and well-being centre with lots on.

Solasum you're most welcome. I totally agree that it's something to achieve before your Father goes into any kind of decline and if at all possible, it should be presented as his idea, a new adventure, something to look forward to. It's a horrible thing to contemplate, giving up something loved, losing independence...

They need somewhere spacious and lovely enough to appeal and not feel like too much of a sacrifice, but as someone said up thread, easy and practical and suitable for one person to manage without worrying and most of all to enjoy. I wholeheartedly agree with bridget and it's true that London, or other large cities, can surround you with people, but still leave you self contained and private. If and when your Mother becomes, essentially a carer for your Father, she may indeed welcome more of a local network, if only for a little outside company.

Look at East Molesey, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Thames Ditton. So many amenities, beautiful locations near the Royal Parks and the Thames, Kingston Hospital near by, good buses etc.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66090005.html