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Original poster

One bed flat, two small kids...

32 replies

TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:21

We are moving into rental having sold our flat - we tried to link up the chain and had house after house fall through so to keep our buyers we've gone ahead and sold. We're still looking to buy but in the meantime we need to rent.

Various factors - commute, school, childcare - limit us to looking in a relatively small expensive area. There also aren't too many places coming up so we've sort of just swapped one property search problem for another!

Anyway, today I saw a really lovely one bedroom flat that I think we could make work for all of us but maybe I'm underestimating the challenges. Thoughts welcome! We are a family of four, two adults and kids aged 2 and 4.

The flat is literally across the road from a lovely park, there's a private garden and a big communal garden too. We would have direct access to both gardens. So what it lacks in indoor space it really does make up for in outdoor space.

We would give the one bedroom to the kids, bunk beds for them and we could have some of their toys and all of their clothes stored in the bedroom too.

Then there's a big open plan kitchen / living room. We would sleep there on a sofa bed and would need some storage there for our clothes too.

We would need to be ruthless with toys / clothes / books and keep some items in storage - capsule wardrobes for all and in reality our kids wear the same three outfits in rotation anyway!

It is also well within our budget and means we are not eating into our savings which feels essential as we still try to buy.

Downsides - obviously another bedroom or indeed another living space would be nice and we won't have space for guests or do to much hosting but I suppose that hasn't really been a feature of our lives for the past year and a half so maybe we can live without that for longer. Storage is also really lacking and we'll be relying on ikea shelves really plus leaving out of season clothes in our in laws house.

Any thoughts or experiences would be welcome please and thanks.

OP posts:
SwimBaby · 05/07/2021 16:24

I think it would be really difficult. I had a one bedroom flat with one DC and really wanted/needed another room. I recently bought a one bedroom flat for my DC and the sellers had a one year old and although they did a brilliant job of keeping place nice for viewings you could see it was bursting at the seams.

FurierTransform · 05/07/2021 16:25

I grew up as one of 3 kids in a 1 bedroom flat - We all slept in the one room (bunk beds / cot / parents bed). No other furniture in there as far as I remember. Our toys were in boxes under the bed/sofa & from memory we sort of spread out into the communal areas of the flats too. But we didn't have much 'stuff' (for obvious reasons).

So it is possible. Just have to declutter/simplify massively as you say!

Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:27

I know what you mean. I suppose for context we’re coming from a 75sqm flat to this 50sqm flat but ours had no direct outside space and this does, so it feels like that might make up for it? But yes one reason for our move is to get more space so I’m sure it will feel tight but hopefully it won’t be for more than 6 months or maximum a year.

OP posts:
Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:32

@FurierTransform

I grew up as one of 3 kids in a 1 bedroom flat - We all slept in the one room (bunk beds / cot / parents bed). No other furniture in there as far as I remember. Our toys were in boxes under the bed/sofa & from memory we sort of spread out into the communal areas of the flats too. But we didn't have much 'stuff' (for obvious reasons).

So it is possible. Just have to declutter/simplify massively as you say!

Thanks, that's encouraging! We might just have all the beds in that bedroom if we go for it and under bed storage will help a lot for sure.
OP posts:
minipie · 05/07/2021 16:32

I think a lot depends on your childcare and working arrangements. If you are both out at work and children at nursery or school 8-6 then this would be ok. You’d have to get out a lot at weekends.

However if your DC spend quite a bit of time at home and/or either of you is wfh this could quickly become very difficult. 2 and 4 are very active, loud ages and too young to be doing much in the way of quiet activities like lego or drawing.

Also do your DC sleep well, do they get ill much?

Caspianberg · 05/07/2021 16:33

I think it’s actually ok if you know it’s just for 6-12 months and not forever.

If you have a private garden, get a good garden storage cupboard and lots of toys can be used and stored outside.
With the nice weather atm Ds has toy kitchen and sandpit outside, with various bits inside like toys animals and some duplo. He plays outside 90% of the time.

PumpkinKlNG · 05/07/2021 16:33

There was a family of 5 living above me in the one bed flat. They managed for 3 years and one was a teen! No garden either

Caspianberg · 05/07/2021 16:34

And yes I would go for all sleeping in one room. That way there’s always living space free to play, someone to stay up late or get up early without disturbing those sleeping in living area.

MyDcAreMarvel · 05/07/2021 16:35

At your children’s ages I would just all sleep in the bedroom if it’s only for a year or two.

Persipan · 05/07/2021 16:36

I think before you get to deeply into thinking about this you need to find out whether the landlord would be up for renting to a family - they may not be.

Micemakingclothes · 05/07/2021 16:38

If it’s temporary, I would probably see if you can all sleep in the bedroom. That way you still have some flexibility with a sleeping and a non-sleeping space.

BunnyRuddington · 05/07/2021 16:41

I've lived in a one bedrooms flat as a single person.

I'd also say to put all of the beds in one room, but mainly because my DH goes to be later and gets up earlier than me.

You'll need to come up with some inventive storage solutions and like others have said, make the most of the outdoor space and park, so good waterproofs for the DC.

It's temporary though so I'm sure you'll be fine Smile

Bluntness100 · 05/07/2021 16:44

Up to a year is quite a long time to live in over crowded accommodation, if three months, maybe six I’d consider it op. Why do you think it will take so long?

Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:46

Thanks everyone.

  • The landlord is fine with renting to a family. Well, they may choose someone else if they have a few offers but happy in principle to rent to a family.
  • Yes all sleeping in one room is definitely an option too and in practice that's often how it goes for us anyway! I suppose I thought keeping the floor in that room a bit more free gives more space for playing - my older child likes to play in her bedroom. I was thinking bunk bed with double on the bottom in there and then sofa bed for us in the living space and a bit of musical beds if kids are up and one of us wants to lie in.
  • Three days a week the kids are in school / childcare until 5.30pm, the older one will be in school the other two days a week and little one is with me but we tend to be out and about a lot anyway - we are used to living in a flat with no garden so that won't be new to us.
  • They don't get ill often at all and they sleep pretty well but usually end up in or bed at some point during the night.

The other factor is if we don't go for this we either have to bust our budget and dip into savings, jeopardising the future move, or leave the area and that doesn't appeal to any of us. So this feels like the best option.

OP posts:
Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:47

@Bluntness100

Up to a year is quite a long time to live in over crowded accommodation, if three months, maybe six I’d consider it op. Why do you think it will take so long?
There is nowhere for rent around here with a lease of less than 6 months, most want 12. And also we don't even have an offer accepted on a house at this point so 3 months seems ambitious, even if we are able to break the lease once we buy?
OP posts:
FAQs · 05/07/2021 16:48

I let out a one bed flat, it’s smaller though and has a couple in it, but if they had a child due to housing reg sizing they’d have to move out otherwise I’d be in trouble, and it meets the min bedroom size. I believe it would (I’d have to check) also make my insurance invalid. It’s worth checking with the agent if you’re allowed to, although some probably don’t care

FAQs · 05/07/2021 16:50

Sorry, crossed posts.

EssentialHummus · 05/07/2021 16:51

I’d go for it as a temporary measure. Eating into savings is the least appealing option imo.

I’m another one contemplating overcrowded accommodation near a school, so you have my sympathies!

Maggiesfarm · 05/07/2021 16:51

I think you could manage that as it isn't going to be long term.

Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 16:59

@FAQs

I let out a one bed flat, it’s smaller though and has a couple in it, but if they had a child due to housing reg sizing they’d have to move out otherwise I’d be in trouble, and it meets the min bedroom size. I believe it would (I’d have to check) also make my insurance invalid. It’s worth checking with the agent if you’re allowed to, although some probably don’t care
The agent knows we’re a family of 4 and I’ve put the ages of the kids on the offer form, so it’s all clearly communicated by us anyway.
OP posts:
OakPine · 05/07/2021 17:10

Yes, I'd do it.
Put as much as you can in storage, and get rid of any cheaper large items that would cost more to store than buy again.
Try to treat it as if you are going on holiday for 6 months to a holiday apartment. Only take what you absolutely need.
And don't try to make it all look nice. Just do what you have to to get by.
Is it rented unfurnished?
If at all possible, try to partition off an area with a bookcase/other big furniture in the living room and squeeze in a permanent bed behind it. One thing which would be very exhausting is to keep getting out and tidying up a sofa bed.

Original poster
TryingtoBuy2021 · 05/07/2021 17:13

@OakPine

Yes, I'd do it. Put as much as you can in storage, and get rid of any cheaper large items that would cost more to store than buy again. Try to treat it as if you are going on holiday for 6 months to a holiday apartment. Only take what you absolutely need. And don't try to make it all look nice. Just do what you have to to get by. Is it rented unfurnished? If at all possible, try to partition off an area with a bookcase/other big furniture in the living room and squeeze in a permanent bed behind it. One thing which would be very exhausting is to keep getting out and tidying up a sofa bed.
That’s a good way to approach it mentally, thanks. I would like to do exactly as you’ve said with the bed and that was our original plan but not sure if it might take away too much space from the main living room. Worth a try though.
OP posts:
Akire · 05/07/2021 17:14

Plenty of people do this long term so for short term def doable. But you most likely have pay for storage unless you havnt got much at the moment and willing to get rid of more. Would bedroom fit double bed and single that kids could share?

Or best pay out for proper sofa bed that’s not going to kill your backs.

PumpkinKlNG · 05/07/2021 17:26

It will be fine op, honestly the flat above me has only ever had families up there despite being 1 bed. The landlord obviously doesn’t care

oreo2020 · 05/07/2021 18:52

As a temporary option (as you are looking to buy) this is absolutely doable. Do it!