Would you consider moving into a flat rather than a house?

[frolicmum]

We've been looking around for a while and given that we have number 2 on the way, our budget does not stretch further than 650k and I found this flat rather than a house. I adore it. Pictures for our house will be taken next Tuesday and it will then hit the market. The estimate is 475k.

Area: Bromley/ Eltham / Orpington

What do you think about this flat and what are the downsides of buying a large flat rather than a house?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85501792

I’m going to echo what @minipie said. I am in a one bed flat in a town so a masssssive difference in budget etc HOWEVER because I am a leaseholder, the refurb they are expecting to do, the expense is being passed onto us. It’s costing 10s of thousands. My flat is worth 80k. I bought it because I can’t afford a house and was naive and didn’t realise I’d be responsible for bills like that.

If it’s leasehold, walk away.

I live in a flat, it's great. I'm mates with some of the neighbours and we have a maintenance company who fixes any issues (aka our leaking roof).

We do live opposite a big park though and have enormous windows and a large private roof terrace. And we're moving out when we have kids.

Biggest problem is my downstairs neighbour threatening legal action over the noise. The noise he is complaining about is me walking in my own home past 11pm. Particularly to the loo or to get water in the night. He's an arsehole.

MY DH grew up in flats (although communist blocks in Poland rather than anything like the lovely one you're looking at, op!) and absolutely refuses to even consider living in one now. He would rather pay more for a smaller, shabbier house than pay less for a bigger, posher flat, he is that opposed.

Leasehold makes me nervous and I would want to be sure of access to the garden, but I would certainly seriously consider the flat.

It's gorgeous but it's a busy road and the repairs would be costly. As others have said, do your due diligence re; leasehold. Who is the freeholder? It only takes one nightmare neighbour to make flat living miserable. The layout isn't great either with the main bathroom downstairs.

There are some lovely houses in the area for that budget. Have you looked at Eltham Park, around New Eltham/Avery Hill and Sidcup?

We live in a flat, I have a five year old and hopefully in the future we’ll hopefully have number two. Our flat is a similar size to the one in your link, we have a courtyard, underground parking and a porter, I also own a share of the freehold. We live in N1, so we would never be able to afford a house.

For us living in a flat is fine, Sheperdess walk park is about a 30 second walk, Shoreditch park, Haggerston park and London fields all within easy walking distance. I can’t imagine ever moving out of our flat.

How has it been converted? Ours is in an ex industrial building, we have lots of lovely original features, but the soundproofing etc is very good so I rarely hear neighbours.

Old Farm Avenue, Sidcup, DA15 8AP
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86926045.html

This has sold but plenty more available like it.

I live in a flat, it’s great... And we're moving out when we have kids

^ Yes, when I was buying pre kids I chose a flat with large rooms (with garden but not direct access) over a small house with smaller rooms.

But with young kids I would choose the opposite.

And the leasehold issues with our flat were a PITA, I spent ages arguing with the managing agent about their massively inflated refurb costs.

OP the flat you are looking at is the middle of the house so you will potentially have noise from above AND people below you complaining about your noise!

We own a flat just around the corner OP, it's a great area. Our flat is share of freehold, which negates some (if not all) of the issues the others are warning you about. Beware that agent however, they were USELESS when we tried using them recently.

The garden would be the sticking point for me, especially with dc. Even if you find one with a garden they are usually communal. Plus dc can be noisy and there's nothing worse than trying to keep the from running and jumping about so not to piss neighbours off. Give me a detached house with a garden any day.

Leasehold not freehold would be a concern, noisey neighbours, communal spaces needing upkeep, ? Sharing garden, garden being overlooked by other residents, surcharges, if at all possible I would always go for a freehold detached if I could afford it due to previous awful experience with flats and bad neighbours

This flat says private garden.

However the issue for me would be the lack of direct access. You can’t just let a child out for a potter on their own while you watch them from the kitchen. If you go out to the garden and they need a hat/ wee/ drink it’s a palaver. If you have two small children (baby and toddler) just going up and down the stairs to the garden is an effort and you are less likely to use it.

If the flat is upstairs how is a buggy going to work? You can’t leave it in the communal hallway. You would have to fold it and bring it up every time - massive pain especially with two. Same with any future scooters, bikes etc. Unless there is a secure shed?

@LilyLongJohn

The garden would be the sticking point for me, especially with dc. Even if you find one with a garden they are usually communal. Plus dc can be noisy and there's nothing worse than trying to keep the from running and jumping about so not to piss neighbours off. Give me a detached house with a garden any day.

It has a private garden for just that flat.

I live in a flat with 2 kids because I prefer the area to where I would be able to buy a house.
As PPs have said it depends what you want to prioritise. For me area wins every time.

It is a beautiful flat, but flats are not places to raise a small family. You need a proper garden IMO, where you can open the back door and the children can play outside.

Fetching shopping, buggies, and washing up and down a flight of stairs every time, no thanks.

I would rather buy a smaller house with a garden, freehold, never leasehold.

@MaelyssQ

I would rather buy a smaller house with a garden, freehold, never leasehold.

This.

I'd love a low maintenance, ground floor flat, but I just can't risk the leasehold stuff. It's a 'known unknown' too far.

I wouldn't buy a flat again. Repair and maintenance in communal areas has cost me a fortune.

I’ve done it and wouldn’t again EVER.
We lived in a six bedroom flat for three years with young children.

If it’s a conversion the sound proofing will more than likely be shit

You’re also at the mercy of crap neighbours who may resent your children making noise

Or

Who might be territorial over the garden

Etc
Etc
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If I had to move to a flat I would want:

My own front door - not shared.

Ensure that the flat is very well sound proofed (I loved in converted Victorian house with very bad sound proofing and it was very stressful).

Not on a main busy road.

Outdoor space.

Parking that is designated to the flat.

I’m sure flats can be ok but I have had a bad experience so it really clouds my judgement.

Oh yes and I would want to know about the flats around me are they live in owners or rentals.

The flat looks beautiful by the way

I grew up in something similar, a divided house from the Queen Anne era. It was beautiful, as is this conversion. As long as the leasehold and common areas are sorted I’d go for it. So unusual.

With older children it could work, but it would be a bit of a challenge with a baby and toddler. At least they'd learn to walk up and down stairs early! Would there be scope to store a buggy downstairs/outside?

The upstairs bathroom arrangements look annoying. I'd ask a builder/plumber ho easy it would be to add an extra loo/shower in the adjacent bedroom.

Two little ones might be really annoying for the neighbours beneath, but it really depends which rooms they use and when. I get the feeling the main bedroom would be under what is your dining room.

Get a very thorough survey as that house is going to require a lot of scaffolding to fix the roof/paint windows etc.

@ilovepuggies this flat would tick all your boxes haha