Buying my flat was the worst mistake of my life.

[bibshamed]

6 months ago, at 22 years old, I bought a 3 bed duplex/maisonette flat in Aldershot. It was fine, I liked living there, and we made it home. Well, my 4 year relationship fell apart, and I realised I only bought it because he loved it and I wasn't happy there. I moved back with my Mum in Cambridge and realised I made the biggest mistake of my life. It's in a terrible area of Aldershot, with electrical issues.

I had 2 nightmare lodgers who eventually left and are now threatening me with small claims court for not returning their deposit, despite leaving the place in a bad condition after, constantly complained and lied about extent of repairs needed, only 2 months (smoking weed inside, not ventilating or heating it, so mould) AND running into arrears.

I put down a £50k deposit, which I saved for 5 years while living at home and studying, for that money. I have priced it so that hopefully to break even after estate agent and conveyancing fees. I don't know why I moved so far away from my family, it was a huge mistake, and I realised I was only happy living there because I was with Him. I don't know what to do I just want to cry. I don't think anyone will buy it. I paid 165k for it. I think I may have overpaid. I feel so stupid.

Did you take the photos on the estate agent listing yourself? It really needs better photos to market it as they're pretty terrible. You need a specialist camera lens to take wider angled photos and I'd "dress" the inside to be as nice as possible (borrow stuff from people if needed) because it's not going to win anyone over from the outside.

You paid £165k 6 mths ago but priced it at £185k? What on earth made you think it had gone up in value by 12% in just 6 mths?

And you found your tenants on FB marketplace? Presumably because you didn't want to pay a reputable letting agency?

Maybe if you stopped trying to treat this as an opportunity to make a quick buck you'd see it differently....

she DROPPED the price from £170 to £185

Struggling to understand your posts.

The photos of the 3 bed maisonette are terrible. All they show is the kitchen and one bedroom and a corner sofa.

you need professional photos of your flat. Not DIY ones.

I curious, how did you manage to save £50K, study as well and get a mortgage for a 3 bed flat at the age of 22?

Property price is very low for Aldershot area and usually double that price. How did you get it so low?

Sorry if this has been already asked but havent read the 6 pages of post here.

But that's not a drop, is it? I assumed it was a typo and she'd dropped from 185 to 170. Either way, at some point it was priced at 185 if the numbers she's given are correct.

And how come you have not posted on MN before?

You did a good job on the property ladder being so young at the time. You sound more like a property developer.
I am just amazed that you manage to save more than a salary's worth in one year and while at uni. Zero contracts are often low pay. Time and money to put renovate a house must have taken all your time up.

Basically, she was too cheap to get lodgers/tenants through a reputable letting agency, and got burned. Then she listed her flat at a 12% markup on what she bought it for only 6 mths ago, and is now saying "woe is me" because nobody would buy at that price (and who can blame them in the current market - things have changed!).

OP - either drop the priceto what you paid, because the market is tougher it was than 6 mths ago, or use a reputable letting agency and get it let out properly, with a BTL mortgage in place. Review in a couple of years when the dust has settled.

There are some really nasty and pedantic people on Mumsnet today, total empathy bypass.

Nice way to treat a 23 year old who’s just escaped an abusive relationship.

I've read the OPs posts... where does it say it was an abusive relationship? He was unemployed but that doesn't make it abusive. At their age he could easily have been in education/training?

Why is that any of your business?

She has several posts which have since been deleted which went into more detail about the boyfriends behaviour. I won’t repeat the details.

From her deleted posts, it is clear OP has been through a really rough time recently. But I’m sure being repeatedly told her house is dirty, she’s a money grabber and she’s lying about her degrees is making her feel loads better! Well done, mumsnet!

Agree. Some people are clearly having a hard time and taking it out on others.

Well on the strength of the posts still standing, all posters can see is that she says she was happy there with him and the relationship has now broken down. You can't blame people for responding to what they read.

I assume that listing the property at 12% more than she paid 6 mths ago was done on the estate agent's advice, but it was terrible advice. 6 mths ago the market was still very overheated, but things have changed enormously since then. If she wants shot of this place (which it sounds like she does) then realism and practical advice is what's needed.

OP is getting a lot of stick on here.

OP you may think it seems difficult, but honestly, you should be extremely proud of yourself, even I’m proud for you and I’m just a stranger on MN!
I’’m sure one day you’ll understand why, and this will be a valuable lesson for you.
Regardless of it being in an undesirable area, someone will buy it and even though you think the situation seems dreadful, you are in a much stronger position than many people your age.

I genuinely hope my own children have the same level of ambition as you.

Sending many good wishes for a happy and positive future for you X I don’t care if this is really unmumsnetty of me

OP - How long has it been on the market? And why hasn't your EA arranged proper professional photos?

When the flat sells the EA will be getting a decent fee, so don't feel embarrassed to make them do the work to earn it. They should be sorting proper photos of the place, and marketing it properly.

A 22 year old trying to navigate a difficult market and then ending up in a bit of a mess is hardly surprising. I've owned property for decades and had my fair share of mistakes and if you don't see how the events of last couple of years have put abnormal pressure on everyone then you must have been living under a rock.

what possible interpretation of the phrase ‘he threatened me’ is not abusive. He threatened to cut my clothes if i didn’t let his new ‘gf’ in my home.

I'm puzzled by a few things that @bibshamed has said.

There is a 3-bed in Nelson st for sale. If it's the one I think, the building is whitewashed and looks in terrible repair, from the outside.

Aldershot has some not too bad areas, but it also has a not too good reputation as it's near the barracks (and all that goes with young soldiers) and the location doesn't look great- hence the low priced.

I think it would be very hard to do 1 degree, let alone 3 degrees (?) work part time at the same time, and save £50K in a 5 years. Maybe just if someone saved everything and didn't go out much! That means part time work paying £10K pa.

I'm also confused if the OP means tenants or lodgers.

I don't think that post is still there. I can't see it anyway?

People can't read deleted posts.

@bibshamed ah, you're back from school- end of the week! I used to love Fridays when I was teaching.

Did you make a mistake about your education?

You said you had 3 degrees.

How? In 3 years?

no sure what reason i would have to lie about my credentials on an anonymous forum?

2017-2020 - BA (Hons)
2020-2021 - PGCE
2021-2022 - MSc
2022 - 2022 - PGA (Cambridge Uni, Homerton :)

i bought my house midway through my masters degree and during my full time work. i am 23 now.

not that it’s in anyway relevant to my predicament.

im not trying to sell the flat for a profit and there’s not much i can do about the outside

@bibshamed I’m sorry you’ve been hounded by the people on this thread. There’s a lot of sad/jealous/angry little people on the internet.

Why are posters so baffled by the OP, some people are just very driven?. My DS is the same.