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Moving from house to flat

13 replies

aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 08:13

Would I be mad to consider this? It's a first floor flat with almost double the floor space of my good-sized house.
If it was the same floor space in a house I wouldn't be able to afford it.
We currently have a garden that is rarely used.

Has anyone done similar?

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aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 08:15

I should add that I have 3 children - one quite young (4).
Back garden (shared) is massive and beautifully kept.

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Hyacinthia · 25/07/2018 09:03

The things that irritate me about flat living are a) the neighbours and b) whoever manages the building.

I've seen some gorgeous flats, and I like the simplicity of living on one level.

But before going ahead, I'd check (somehow!) - will be neighbours be CFs about the shared garden; is upstairs noisy; and is there a crazy service charge/ is communal work done well.

If all those bits are ok and look set to continue, I'd go right ahead!

Singlenotsingle · 25/07/2018 09:06

Also remember it will be leasehold ( important if you're buying), what are the management fees like?

Ifailed · 25/07/2018 09:06

Hyacinthia the neighbours could be wonderful, now, but what about when they move on and the next lot like to practice their tap-dancing at 1 am?

aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 09:07

Thanks for that! It's a duplex so top floor of building and roof space. Factors seem ok (as ok as they ever are!) and it seems to be all families.

I think my issue is a deep-seated idea that you move flat to house rather than the other way about. The pro's definitely outweigh the cons but there's just something niggling.

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aperolspritzplease · 25/07/2018 09:08

Personally I wouldn't give up my garden with young kids.

Singlenotsingle · 25/07/2018 09:10

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Don't the DC like to play out in this warm weather!? Difficult to keep an eye on them if you're in a flat.

aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 09:35

Hmmm the management fees are about £400 per year. Floor space wise, in a house it would be about 450k but this is 250k so a huge difference (for us).

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nellly · 25/07/2018 09:37

What is the communal garden like? Is t a good space to play out? I looked at a fantastic flat with huge gardens ranging between lawns, flowers and little wooded area kids would adore exploring! Better than a poky square of grass if that's the case!

aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 09:41

It is almost exactly as you describe! Really massive and beautiful garden. We have a very tiny courtyard garden at the moment.

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howabout · 25/07/2018 14:15

I have 3 kids (youngest is 6 and we have been here since the 17 year old was a baby) in a ground floor duplex. I wouldn't choose a top floor because I would forever be worrying about the kids making too much noise stomping about on the downstairs neighbours' heads. Also my lot can go straight out to the garden. My friends with top floor tenements find kids traipsing in and out and up and down the stairs a bit of a pain and taking in the shopping etc is even worse.

Otoh life in a flat is much lower maintenance all round and I would find it difficult to go back to a house.

BrokenWing · 25/07/2018 15:17

From your description it sounds like a good move especially with a garden, but think carefully about the differences in lifestyle when living in close proximity to your neighbours and no privacy outdoors.

Noise from neighbours, complaints from neighbours about reasonable noise, washing machines, toilets flushing at night, smokers, dogs, children, sex noises, overhearing arguments, sharing a garden space for hanging washing, BBQs, toys, playing, supervising children while in garden are all common complaints on MNetters in flats and unfortunately you cant choose your neighbours which is why most people try to move from a flat to a house to a detached house where possible to get that little bit more space and privacy.

You could move into brilliant NDNs but within a year have new ones which like sitting outside your children's bedroom window until late in the evening chatting.

My dsis moved to a modern new build semi and the sound proofing was terrible, when she or her dh were in the house alone she felt there was someone else in the same house, especially when the NDN dc ran up and down the stairs or there washing machine/tumble dryer was running in the evenings. She moved out, losing money, within 2 years as she was very sensitive to the noises, you and your children might not be as noise sensitive but certainly worth careful consideration before making a decision.

aquamarine1 · 25/07/2018 17:08

Offered 5% over value and it was rejected! God, I hate house hunting.

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