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Original poster

Big flat or small house?

115 replies

Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:02

My dd has a choice to make
1100ft2 3 bed flat in a period house, high ceilings and nice features, private section of garden, no direct access ( it's about 1 minute walk away)
750ft2 3 bed 1950s terrace house, decent garden
Which would you go for?

OP posts:
Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:03

Sorry forgot both are the same price too

OP posts:
violeticecream · 23/04/2019 09:04

Definitely the house

Teddybear45 · 23/04/2019 09:05

Flat

Flicketyflack · 23/04/2019 09:09

House

SpamChaudFroid · 23/04/2019 09:24

The house, larger flats can be tricky to sell. House will prob also have opportunity to extend. Flat sounds lovely though.

Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:25

I too would have always said house but the huge difference in size would make me choose the flat

OP posts:
CatToddlerUprising · 23/04/2019 09:26

Is the flat leasehold?

CatToddlerUprising · 23/04/2019 09:29

If your DD has children she’d have to be out in the garden with them in a flat that has no direct access- whereas a house would mean it’ll be easier to keep an eye and get there quicker if there’s an accident

Sirrah · 23/04/2019 09:30

The flat will be leasehold, and have management fees, is the house leasehold or freehold?

Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:33

Cat... the no direct access is my biggest worry, she is 30 and no plans to have children in the next 5 years but you never know.
What makes you say the large flat would be hard to sell?

OP posts:
Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:35

It is leasehold, the building is an old school converted I to 5 flats with the freeholder living in one of the flats. Sc is 600 a year with no ground rent.
House is freehold but no chance to extend as the main drain runs about 2 metres from the back door and the roof pitch isnt right for a loft conversion apparantly

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 23/04/2019 09:35

Because most people would go for a house instead if they can afford one.

IceRebel · 23/04/2019 09:39

House would win for me every time. I would be constantly worried about making too much noise in a flat, and the lack of outside space would make me feel far too cooped up.

Sirrah · 23/04/2019 09:39

Leasehold v freehold makes the choice easier, as well as the direct access to the garden, I would say house every time. As a mum, I understand why you'd prefer your daughter to be a minute away from you, but it's not the best option for her I don't think.

Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 09:41

Sorry sirrah.. I wondered what you meant then lol... the garden is a 1 minute walk away from the flat.
Both house and flat are on the same road

OP posts:
Sirrah · 23/04/2019 09:43

😂 Just like me to get the wrong end of the stick! Sorry for thinking you were like me, and wanting your baby to stay close!

Sirrah · 23/04/2019 09:47

You didn't say how long is left on the flat lease?

Does your daughter have a preference either way?

StarJumpsandaHalf · 23/04/2019 09:51

Without question the house.

No plans for a family within the next few years, so no real need for the extra space either.

I'd rather be responsible for all my own decisions instead of a Freeholder making them for me. I'd also rather have direct access to my own garden and not have anyone above or beneath me.

MrsCollinssettled · 23/04/2019 09:54

House every time. Your dd then has control over maintenance costs. Bought a flat where the maintenance company did unnecessary work purely for cash flow purposes, and upped fees to cover non-payment by others in the block and played fast and loose with the law. Wouldn't touch a flat again with a barge pole.

misper · 23/04/2019 09:57

With flats you're at the mercy of the management company for a lot of building works/ communal upkeep. They can be vv unreasonable, have mental health issues, be alcoholics etc which of course doesn't make them bad ppl but can make it impossible to get anything done or may even interfere when you want to sell. Speaking from experience here and would never buy a flat again!

ivykaty44 · 23/04/2019 10:01

I’d choice not to have a lease hold

cliquewhyohwhy · 23/04/2019 10:02

House.

Original poster
Alexalee · 23/04/2019 10:03

Brand new 99 year lease... no crazy rises in ground rent as it is set at a peppercorn.
She seems to be leaning towards the flat as its bigger and in a nice period building which she loves the style of.
There is no management company, the freeholder lives in the building and gets repairs done and charges the flats after, very reasonable costs from works done in the last 20 years that we have seen copies of.
The flat works out at 300/ ft2
The house more like 450/ft2
So 50% more expensive for the same space, but the consensus here seems to be house

OP posts:
SnowsInWater · 23/04/2019 10:12

I think most people here are saying house because they have families so are thinking from that perspective. Usually on MN people always favour houses, in other countries flat dwelling for everyone is much the norm.

I will buck the trend and say a nice big flat in a period conversation sounds much nicer to me and it looks like the practicalities have been checked so there shouldn't be any nasty surprises. I am a sucker for church/school/warehouse conversions though 😊

stucknoue · 23/04/2019 10:13

House for sure

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