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Original poster

Bedroom without a window

117 replies

Kico99 · 12/03/2021 09:18

Hello! Does anyone have any advice on purchasing a 1 bed apartment where the bedroom doesn’t have a window? It meets fire regs as there is only the requirement for a room to have either a window or open directly onto a hall leading to an entrance/ exit – it does the latter. I’m ok with sleeping in a bedroom with no window but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sell it going forward if I bought it ... plus the seller is asking for £50k more than she bought it 6yrs without adding much to it all. I didn’t think 1 bed flats increase in price very much or at all to be honest and especially one with the bedroom not having a window ...

Help! Thanks 🙏🏽

OP posts:
viques · 12/03/2021 16:09

@RichardMarxisinnocent

It’s a fire door! You are not supposed to leave them open. And if there was a fire, and the fire door was open ..........

and if there was a fire outside the bedroom and the fire door were closed and the owner was in the bedroom with no other exit ......?

Neither is a good scenario, but at least with the fire door closed you would have half an hour to call for help . Whereas with it open you would probably already been overcome by the smoke.

Personally I don’t think I would ever manage to sleep in that flat with the fire door open or closed!

BlackCatsRule88 · 12/03/2021 16:15

Is it possible to see how often it’s changed hands, possibly in comparison with other flats in the building that have windows? Might give you an indication if people buy it and then realise pretty quickly they can’t live there.

Original poster
Kico99 · 12/03/2021 16:19

@BlackCatsRule88

Is it possible to see how often it’s changed hands, possibly in comparison with other flats in the building that have windows? Might give you an indication if people buy it and then realise pretty quickly they can’t live there.
It's a new build in a converted mill house so it was bought off plan by the buyer in 2016 and she's lived in it ever since
OP posts:
121hugsneeded · 12/03/2021 17:01

One window in the whole apartment ? That's a no from me.

121hugsneeded · 12/03/2021 17:06

Are you sure this has been converted legally? I thought you hand to have an escape route, other than a door, in a bedroom?

TheJunctionBaby · 12/03/2021 20:20

When I was a teen I lived with a family over in Germany for a few months and I had the spare bedroom that was in the basement. It had no window. I didn't immediately consider it a problem, but it really disoriented me. It is so dark that getting up in the morning and having my body realise it was time to get up was very hard. I was always really sluggish for the first part of the day. It was fine as a short term situation, but I would never consider it long term.

NewHouseNewMe · 12/03/2021 21:34

I had a flat where the kitchen and bathroom had no windows. It was definitely harder to sell than others in the area.
I can't imagine how weird it would be not to be able to look outside. What if there was a commotion outside?
Finally the rain on the glass might be an issue.

SecondaryCalling · 12/03/2021 22:50

You may get more for your money in East Twickenham/St Margaret's. There is a nice flat on Riverdale Gardens for sale, which is a lovely road.

I'd stear clear for all the reasons pp have given.

en0la · 12/03/2021 23:06

Not in a million years. All rooms must have windows.

TedMullins · 12/03/2021 23:13

No, absolutely not. What a horrendous thought, having no windows apart from the skylight. It is decorated very nicely but I imagine it would be very claustrophobic. I’m also looking for a 1 bed in London on a much smaller budget than you and there’s no way I’d consider anywhere with no window. The apartment block looked really nice to me, it looks like a 20s Art Deco block. Personally I’d write off the idea of living in Richmond and find a bigger, cheaper flat with windows in another part of London

willibald · 12/03/2021 23:16

No way! Only one window in the place. It's going to be a sauna in summer. Too hard to sell on, too.

earsup · 12/03/2021 23:23

No....I really thought this was illegal...my old flat in barcelona had a bedroom with no window....it was my room....very depressing....I hated it..only a rental for 2 years but I often slept on sofa in lounge...!

ImpossibleDecisions · 13/03/2021 01:01

I think the worry about ventilation and being baked by the sun would put me off the most.

Also the sound when it rains might be horrendous on all that glass, our small velux is very noisy right now.

I’m not sure how it would feel to not see outside unless you look up, it would be a bit of an experiment with mental health I think.

I might have considered it as a rental if the location is perfect, but too much of a risk to buy.

MsLumley · 13/03/2021 08:37

Hell no, for the 8 million reasons given above, and also because it smacks of greedy property developers shoehorning rooms in where they shouldn’t be just to make more money.

kirinm · 13/03/2021 10:03

It's a lovely looking flat but it's basically a greenhouse with no fire escape. I can see why you'd like it but it would be a big no from me.

Brownlongearedbat · 13/03/2021 13:42

Apart from being baked by the sun or deafened by rain, you could also be thrust into darkness by a heavy fall of snow. And just think what a hail storm would sound like - you might worry the glass was going to give way!

Gerla · 13/03/2021 22:04

Thanks for this but I just don't see myself in big apartment blocks that look quite dated
You don't like the 1930s one? It's lovely inside and out - so much nicer than a cupboard!

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