Multi-level garden - yay or nay?

[ScottishDream]

We’ve seen a lovely house, country cottage but surprisingly large. Needs a bit of redecorating and a new kitchen, but otherwise ticks a lot of boxes.

The back garden though... there’s an alley at the back of the house with steps up to the first level, and then further steps up to the lawn, which is about level with the bedroom windows. It’s not child friendly, I can imagine DS measuring his length down the steps or falling off the wall.

Would this be a total no for you?

I should think you could make it child-friendly for the relatively short time this will be an issue if you like the house.

If it’s very steep, doesn’t that make the interior very dingy? I would think the slope gets in the way of the sun. Otherwise, I also think that you can make it a bit more child friendly and if your son doesn’t keep on falling down the stairs in the house, then I don’t think he’ll keep on having accidents on the steps outside.

Might be worth a drive by after heavy rain to see if the ground level floods.

That worry aside, I think we could work with it, but we are not a family who are very interested in gardens or whose children spend much time unsupervised there. The perfect house for us is probably one with a compromised garden, because you get more house for your money.

@Murmurur funnily enough we viewed yesterday in very heavy rain, and there wasn’t even a puddle near the house. The garden is well planted with mature shrubs which must help.

@JoJoSM2 all the rooms are dual aspect, and the back is south facing. The only ones which are going to suffer with light are the utility room, and workshop at the back of the garage.

I think we need a second viewing.

Second viewings are great. Rather than just taking it all in and having first impressions, you’ll be able to look at actual practicalities.

My mums house has a small area outside the back door and steps up to a lovely part decked/part lawn area.
They have lived there since 2016 and don't ever go up to the garden, I just find it bizarre that they even bought the house with a garden like that.
The stairs are quite steep and I don't like my children going up and down them when we're there but they have played up there a few times.

The big problem could be ensuring the retaining walls for that huge weight of the garden are properly designed. Walls can fail and it’s very expensive to put them right. Have a close look for bulging and cracks. If anything looks wrong and out of alignment, it’s a red flag.

The garden does sound very steep. The narrow channel at the house could be widened to form a patio or play area, but at a big cost. Retaining walls are very expensive. We have seen gardens like this when we visit NGS open gardens. They can be amazing but not child or elderly person friendly. You could put up fences. This would restrict light though. You know your family best so if it would work, then buy it but be realistic about the cost of amendments to walls and digging out a patio.

My garden is multi level, all 1/2 acre of it!
I bought my house because of this, I love that I can have different levels for different things. We have hand rails etc and have planted so it is safe for children/dogs.
The back is also north facing but because of the way it rises there is always sun in it, I have a dining and outside kitchen level, a sofa area for entertainment, a reading area, a dog area and then lawn for DCS.
The back of the house being north facing should be dark but its not due to huge windows.
The front is multi level too and the way its planted gives so much privacy.
The only issue would be if you weren't that mobile.

So much to consider. It's definitely a "heart' house.

We have a second to view which on paper ticks all the boxes, and has a nice flat garden with patio doors out to it. But it's a 70s chalet bungalow and nowhere near as pretty or characterful.

@Saranvenya your garden sounds lovely. I do like the idea of different functions on different levels.

70s properties often have big rooms so you may be able to make it stunning and have a flat garden.

Do you have any elderly visitors? They might not like going in the garden and if you don't have enough flat ground for a table and chairs it will be a pain to have meals outside.

It’s the alley at the back of the house that would bother me. I’ve seen great houses with small patios at the bottom of a steep landscaped garden but an alleyway is unusable. You always have a climb out of it.

Does DS play in the garden? Would he relish kicking a ball about? Are the flat areas restricting for him? Safety is one consideration but so is usage and enjoyment. Most tiered gardens I’ve seen are owned by garden enthusiasts. Not families with active DC.

We have stone steps and multi levels. I almost didn't buy due to it, 14 years later, kids are now teens and have never fallen down the steps no even once (to my amazement as DS in particular is really clumsy.
It is a total non issue and was as soon as the kids were stable on their feet.
Take a second viewing but think ahead and don't let it put you off

I love our tiered garden. The kids have so much more fun in it, although I do have to keep an eye on the toddler.

You can have climbing wall holds, slides and ladders. My ds8 loves having friends round to play chase and adventure games. A flat garden just doesn’t have the same appeal.

Pop a row of plant pots along the edge, apart from places with slides etc. Our walls are about 4’ to 5’ tall and my kids have never hurt themselves by falling off.

We put a rose arch and gate in a fence at the steps in out split level garden, looked good and kept the kids safe, some times a garden split in to different zones is good

We have a flat garden with woodland, a pool with pool house, a gravel garden, loads of running around space, fantastic flower beds, and two patios for entertaining with lounging and dining furniture. So no appeal at all!

It would be a no from me. Sorry.