Old vs new

[JillyWillyPops]

I'm in the middle of looking for a new home to rent and I'm torn between 2 properties.

One is a 4 bed 3 storey property in a conservation area. Very old, beams in most rooms, front door is straight out onto the pavement with a small garden at the rear.

The other is a small 3 bed new build with garage, front and back garden, driveway.

There is me and 3 kids.

The kids are loving the old property even though there's not much of a garden.

My head says new build and my heart says old.

Which would you go for??

The 4 bed so each child can have their own room.

If you were buying, I would remind you that older properties tend to need more repairs and if it's in a conservation area they're likely to be more expensive than average.
However as you're renting and repairs are someone else's problem, I'd say follow your heart and go with old. You may never be able to afford to live in a historic house like this again. Budget extra for heating though; old houses tend to be cold. Also, will you need a parking permit (also ££)?

@DingoWings

If you were buying, I would remind you that older properties tend to need more repairs and if it's in a conservation area they're likely to be more expensive than average. However as you're renting and repairs are someone else's problem, I'd say follow your heart and go with old. You may never be able to afford to live in a historic house like this again. Budget extra for heating though; old houses tend to be cold. Also, will you need a parking permit (also ££)?

That's what I thought, there's more to go wrong in an old house but like you say it wouldn't be my problem.

I wouldn't need a parking permit as there is parking at the rear of the property.

I think my heart is winning with this one, it's next to a river as well. 2 minutes walk from the town centre whereas the new build I'd have to drive in and pay for parking.

@Cornishmumofone

The 4 bed so each child can have their own room.

This is why they are hooked on it. The only downside I see is that my middle child loves the garden that we have now - 120ft 🙈 but on the plus side, my partner has a field for a garden and we're moving to be closer to him

What’s the EPC like on the older property? The repairs might not be your responsibility, but the heating bills will.

As you’re renting I’d go with the four bed, a room each for the kids and if you really hate it then you can move on but at least you gave it a go? The teenager might also really appreciate being close to town once you get there.

@ComtesseDeSpair

What’s the EPC like on the older property? The repairs might not be your responsibility, but the heating bills will.

Just checked on this 😬

The old one is energy efficiency e, has a coal fire and gas central heating.
The new one is d and is only gas central heating.

The older property sounds idyllic to me, even with the smaller garden if you have the river for nice walks nearby and other green space you can use close by then I don't think it's that bad having a smaller garden. I think a bedroom each sounds better than them having to share. I prefer older properties and their character to new builds, but that's just personal preference.

From the additional information, about still having parking, and being close to town, added to the 'bedroom each' situation, then I'd go for the 4 bed, older property

They have both gone 😩

That'll teach me for taking too long to make my mind up.

Old property hands down. I much prefer the character of them (we bought a house that is 220 years old). But also, having rented in new builds were everything was paper thin and of poor quality, it was a nightmare with young kids.