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Original poster

Would this put you off a house?

53 replies

beardotdo · 20/02/2018 08:19

We’re currently in the process of selling our house, and therefore looking for a new one.

We’ve found a house that ticks every single box: detached, 3 bedrooms, lots of living space, off road parking and garage and it’s an older house which is what we want. The only off putting thing is the location. Well, the exact street to be specific.
It’s on a road which is predominately old terraced houses, with cars parked on both sides of the street. Opposite are some housing association flats, which doesn’t put me off entirely, but I have a sneaking suspicion they are used to house ex-offenders leaving prison. Not 100% on this. I’ve driven past at various times of the day/night and never seen anything untoward, but I’m just not sold on the street. Apart from that it is perfect, a 10 minute walk into town, schools are all good and most importantly it’s in budget.

Wise mumsnetters, what would you do?!

OP posts:
Middleoftheroad · 20/02/2018 08:25

Hmm I would go with my gut instict.

When we moved here I was worried about school parking but DH assured me it'd be OK - it's a pain.

JollyGiraffe · 20/02/2018 08:25
Biscuit
Middleoftheroad · 20/02/2018 08:27

Plus with DS I would want to find out more about who's living opposite.

CapnHaddock · 20/02/2018 08:29

I had a halfway house on the corner of the street I lived in for 10 years. I didn't even know until they sold it off to convert into flats.

What exactly is your issue?

useyourimagination · 20/02/2018 08:32

Flats opposite wouldn't bother me but the on street parking may well be an issue.

Angryosaurus · 20/02/2018 08:33

I think you need to find out in detail about housing ex offenders. As this would impact resale too. Also I think I'd rather buy an 'ugly' house that looks onto beautiful older houses when I look out of the window, than pay a premium for a 'pretty' house that overlooks a block of flats!

wheresmyphone · 20/02/2018 08:33

Same advice I would give to anyone. Visit at various pints of day and most importantly at night. Talk to neighbours and in local shops. Ask what area like. And follow gut reactions.

TheQueenOfWands · 20/02/2018 08:34

The terraced houses with bonkers parking would bother me more. Sounds a bit manic, crowded and unpleasant.

I lived on a street like that and it was an absolute pain in the hole.

Flats would only put me off due to possible noise.

I love quiet though. My neighbours are some very chilled stoners and a field of cows. I'm a bit of a douchey snowflake when it comes to noise.

MammaAgata · 20/02/2018 08:36

God knows why you’ve been given a biscuit...

Anyhow, I looked at a house and nearly offered on a house that sounds in a similar type of location to the one you describe. Beautiful renovated cottage but in a busy road with cars parked either side, opposite a church, vets etc. Lots of vans etc. I had to keep driving up and down the road at various times of day to convince myself it would be ok. In the end I went with my gut instinct and didn’t buy. Looking back it was the best decision as driving along the road now if anything it’s got busier. Location location location..

Happened · 20/02/2018 08:37

Location is everything for me, I've passed over many perfect houses because of where they were.

SporkInTheToaster · 20/02/2018 08:39

Are you struggling to find properties that meet your wish list requirements? If you don’t buy this one, what else is available? Is the alternative a much bigger compromise? What do you lose/gain?

My house is a couple of minutes walk from a former boarding house for ex offenders. The building changed hands a few years ago but we bought this house when the boarding house was there. We never had any issues with the people living there, ever, in the 10ish years we lived alongside each other. The residents seemed to keep themselves to themselves. No noise, no antisocial behaviour, no police cars in the street, no people hanging around the entrance. Either we were lucky and it was exceptionally well managed with considerate residents or they were representative of the average boarding house.

By all means do some more digging but my experience was fine.

Cheesenacho123 · 20/02/2018 08:39

I live in a HA house on a new estate, am I or my partner an offender or ex offender? No! We are a young couple with a toddler who can’t afford their own home and no private renters want to take us. If you want to know who lives in those houses go round talking about charities or selling something or sit outside for a while and see who comes and goes. If anyone took ten minutes on our road they see all the HA houses plus those who are owned by people are all families with young children. Don’t be put off by the fact they have HA houses there

ImListening · 20/02/2018 08:40

I grew up in a road with a half way house. Was not as issue.

What was an issue was when houses started being pulled down & flats put up in place as parking then became a premium. It was a pain. My parents moved recently as it was getting too much for them to look for parking.

Pansiesandredrosesandmarigolds · 20/02/2018 08:40

You can afford it, you like it, and it works for you.

SporkInTheToaster · 20/02/2018 08:40

Ah, same as capnhaddock

fromtheshires · 20/02/2018 08:47

What does living in a housing association house have to do with this cheesenacho? The OP is talking about halfway houses where they put ex prisoners who are newly released from prison, not Housing association houses!

I would be put off my no off street parking if it were me.
The halfway house if it is one shouldnt be that much of an issue as whilst there are ex offenders there, if there are any issues, I imagine they would be delt with robustly by probation service, the prison service or even the Police.

As always, go with your gut as you have to live there and if you arent 100% sold, you wont enjoy this house.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 20/02/2018 08:47

Have you seen anything else you like? Tbh the flats wouldn’t bother me and nor would the parking seeing as you would have off-street parking. But if it’s not right for you keep looking!

We ruled out a lovely Georgian townhouse with 5 beds because it had almost no garden, was on the high street opposite a skeezy pub, across from a chipper and backed onto a car park where neds hung out. It was a beautiful house and much bigger than anything else we could afford, but the location was dire.

dantdmistedious · 20/02/2018 08:49

We have a halfway house on the Main Street near me, we're in a side street.

There are a lot of problems with anti social behaviour. I wouldn't want to live opposite it.

JulyAphrodite · 20/02/2018 08:50

Best to get the worse house in the best location than the best house in bad location

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 20/02/2018 08:50

I have lived in a similar setting for a few years but with the housing association flats /prison leavers hostel a couple of blocks away.
I have enjoyed the house, the street, parking has not been so much of an issue as parking is limited to residents, it has been nice to walk to town and great to have nice schools nearby.

I’m thinking of moving... fortunately my child is stuck to the xbox (I didn’t think I would say that ever) so is hardly outside with the other kids, who in some cases started using pot at 13. Houses are targeted by burglars all the time, my neighbours are lovely but we find ourselves whispering when talking about our routines & future holidays if talking in our gardens. Idon’t even feel safe walking the dog at night since I saw a woman getting a good kicking by someone trying to steal her bag.

My street is an expensive one and we get all this. The prices of the houses one or two blocks away are much much cheaper but I understand they deal with more noise and disruption.

Middleoftheroad · 20/02/2018 08:53

OP we had to move in a rush for schools. Don't just jump in if it does not tick the location box. Another house always comes along and if you don't have a time deadline (ok appreciate yours is sold) then don't rush it as we had to.

Mrsmadevans · 20/02/2018 08:53

Go by your gut instinct OP.
There will be another house keep looking , Good Luck

FlameCrestedTanager · 20/02/2018 08:56

We have to walk past one on our way into the city centre. We've often witnessed drug dealing and there's always people hanging around in groups. I've never felt unsafe but I wouldn't want to live on the same street.

Original poster
beardotdo · 20/02/2018 08:56

Varied responses as I thought there might be. Thanks all.

There’s some HA houses next to the flats which I’ve got no concerns with at all. The only off putting things are the flats and the crowding of the street due to the parked cars. I’ll do some more research into the flats I think. We won’t struggle to park as it has off road parking for multiple vehicles, but driving up and down the street is a pain, as there aren’t really any gaps to pull in and give way. Pleased to hear that some of you have lived near halfway houses with no issues at all, really good to hear.

It goes without saying that choosing a house that we’re going to live in for a long time is a big decision, so we want to get it right.

OP posts:
WhatTheFuckToSay · 20/02/2018 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.