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Original poster

Is this house horrible? Birmingham/Kings Heath

135 replies

Ithc2023 · 03/04/2023 10:39

Hi,

We've recently accepted an offer on our house and are house hunting at the moment.

We're going to look at this house tomorrow

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132182531#/?channel=RES_BUY

It's a bit unloved but we're quite excited about the house and my husband is willing to put some work in it

I sent the link to my parents and they both think that the house is horrible.

My mother thinks it's terrible that the house doesn't have a hallway.

My father thinks the same and he also said we should get a cat to keep away the rats (as he says the house is close to a canal in Birmingham).

What does mumsnet think?

Thanks xx

Check out this 3 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove

3 bedroom terraced house for sale in Florence Road, Kings Heath, B14 for £290,000. Marketed by Rice Chamberlains LLP, Moseley

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132182531#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
Coastalvenues · 03/04/2023 12:14

saltrock123 · 03/04/2023 11:49

It is horrible and over priced.

That's totally unnecessary isn't it.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 03/04/2023 12:23

I can't see the canal on the map.

I've lived for years in a Victorian workers cottage with no hall. Would I prefer a hall, yes. Is it an issue, no. I'd rather have my lovely little house as it is than one that wasn't as nice just because it had a hall. And no, it's not colder either.

If you like it, buy it.

Chatbot12 · 03/04/2023 12:25

Ithc2023 · 03/04/2023 11:28

What are the neighbours like? Do you have experience with the local schools? 😊

Show quote history

It’s definitely becoming increasingly middle class - you’re in throwing distance of York Rd so very much café culture, bars, arts and super family friendly. Neighbours will be reflected in this, but it’s still got a bit of urban grit! Second to the LTN, the most common complaint is the number of chicken shops and the antisocial behaviour of people hanging around them. But if you’re living in a city suburb, that’s pretty normal? I’d rather that than 100% yummy mummies.
You would be about a 2 min walk away from Kings Heath Primary School. It’s probably changed a bit over time but is still considered a good school. It’s pretty lefty, multicultural and non-uniform. Lots of afterschool clubs and nice big parks nearby.
Hope that helps!

Chatbot12 · 03/04/2023 12:28

The poster who recommended looking closer to Moseley referred to it as having a better café culture.. sadly most of them have now closed! Moseley seems to be going through a tricky period at the moment, although I’m sure it will perk up. The houses in the area are beautiful and it has a lot to offer.

NormaTheWife · 03/04/2023 12:30

It has potential but for me I hate a door straight into the living room and those stairs that lead up.

Favouritefruits · 03/04/2023 12:40

I actually think you could make it quite nice, it definitely has potential. You could make it cosy and a nice cottage feel.

EightChalk · 03/04/2023 12:41

I think it's a nice house. It has character and charm, and the bathroom size is great. Nice flooring throughout too. Nicer than a characterless box.

LeafHunter · 03/04/2023 12:42

I lived in Moseley/kh for years and it’s really normal to have that layout. A lot of bham houses have it around there or in bearwood. It’s pretty standard terrace of that style.

Original poster
Ithc2023 · 03/04/2023 12:44

Chatbot12 · 03/04/2023 12:28

The poster who recommended looking closer to Moseley referred to it as having a better café culture.. sadly most of them have now closed! Moseley seems to be going through a tricky period at the moment, although I’m sure it will perk up. The houses in the area are beautiful and it has a lot to offer.

That and Moseley is also in "spitting distance" 😂.... 5 minutes by car, I would say.

Houses in Moseley are also too expensive for us.

OP posts:
Greensleevevssnotnose · 03/04/2023 12:46

I don't think it's horrible, it's fine for a first property.

KHeathen · 03/04/2023 12:50

I think the house itself could be lovely. I love a Victorian terrace. Very typical of the Heath!

My dealbreaker would be parking - that road is a nightmare as is Heathfield Road. You might also want to consider that the next phase of the LTN blocks off that road (or it did on one of the proposed schemes).

I'd also advise getting in very quick - housing market in KHeath is insane at the moment and houses are going for way more than the asking price.

Born and bred K Heathen here so feel free to ask anything!!

NotMeNoNo · 03/04/2023 12:51

I can't see a canal? It's just a house of its type, many small terraces open straight onto a small front yard like that up and down the UK. If the space and location works for you then why not?

SilentHedges · 03/04/2023 12:52

I live in the South East and have a Victorian Semi, but the type with the front door at the side that juts out with a small porch and area to hang coats etc, then stairs up the middle as you walk in the front door. It's about the minimum you could describe as a "hall". If that's the type of house in your budget, then overall I think the layout is pretty good. Rooms area good size. There's nothing that jumps out to me as not making sense. What I really don't like is the front door opening straight into the living room, it was a deal breaker for me when viewing. It's practically annoying as well as it's very hard to fit a sofa and chairs in there with the way the doors are placed. Good luck OP, you have a budget to stick to and that may not satisfy your Mums taste but she's not the one saving up to buy!

Trinity65 · 03/04/2023 12:52

I like the little door to upstairs, and the bathroom but that is all.

I suppose an artificial wall can give you a small hallway but that would leave the bit of room left (where fireplace is) very small indeed.

GreenClock · 03/04/2023 12:54

I think that it has character and potential.

Lcb123 · 03/04/2023 12:59

I like it! You can always make a hall way - there’s an episode of ‘your house made perfect’ where they did this. And so cheap (why do I live in the expensive south east…)

CrotchetyQuaver · 03/04/2023 13:01

It doesn't matter where you are, you're never far away from a rat. The canal will be nice for walks?

House doesn't look bad at all to me. I do prefer a hallway and you could put one in if you really wanted to but the front room would be so much smaller...

I'd go look at it and see what you think, I've always liked Victorian terrace houses.

OutDamnedSpot · 03/04/2023 13:04

It’s a good location and the house has loads of potential.

Something like this could work to create a ‘hallway’?

OutDamnedSpot · 03/04/2023 13:05

I don’t think my picture posted. Link here: https://images.app.goo.gl/LDpbMWFV3SpawbyZA

https://images.app.goo.gl/LDpbMWFV3SpawbyZA

Quartz2208 · 03/04/2023 13:09

Just put a hall in. If you want it the ones with a hall just have a smaller front room. Those with a hall would in the main had it put in later.

i once stayed at a friends who had this layout and the front room was one of his fault ate some bedrooms! That I would hate

FKATondelayo · 03/04/2023 13:11

I live in a not dissimilar house in London, mid-terrace narrow Edwardian near to the high street (and chicken shops). When you want to live somewhere close to cafe culture and things to do, you have to compromise on the guest wing and grand entrance hall. I think it's nice with lots of potential but anyone who prefers a modern executive estate, 30s semi or cottage is not going to be a fan.

Agree with the PP who said to do a proper survey as I would be worried some of the flooring might be covering up damp, etc.

derbylass81 · 03/04/2023 13:12

Coldspringtime · 03/04/2023 10:43

Your parents are snobs. But to be fair to them the lack of a hall and opening right on to the living room when it’s that close to the street would be a deal breaker for me.

Yes, the lack of hallway and straight in from the street aren't ideal.

But many houses are like this and many people live like this.

It's about whether you can live like this.

A quick look on "nearby sold prices" shows you other houses that have sold on the street and some of them are beautiful inside.

I think it has a lot of potential. Definitely isn't "horrible".

userxx · 03/04/2023 13:13

I like it.

derbylass81 · 03/04/2023 13:15

Echobelly · 03/04/2023 10:47

Sometimes people have a sort of prejudice against some kinds of property I think. My late grandfather was a bit funny about me buying an terrace and sister having a flat conversion in one and I realised that was probably because he grew up very poor living in a shared terrace house with other families, so he just tended to see them as not nice places to live.

I think the house has a lot of potential, you have a plain base to work with layout is OK. I've never minded not having a front hall - my first house opened into an open plan lounge and it was actually really nice because it was spacious as you came in.

Yes, I lived in a house briefly in which the front door opened into the living room like that.

One plus is that it was actually very sociable. You never had one of those prolonged doorstep chats....you could so easily just usher them in to sit down, so ended up having many impromptu get togethers. When you have to go along down a hallway to get to the sitting room people tend to just say "oh no it's fine, I'll just be a minute."

NotMeNoNo · 03/04/2023 13:15

A couple of the previously sold houses on the street have been done up to look lovely.

You adapt to your house - there isn't a hall but there's a big cupboard under the stairs , you have the right kind of doormat/ hooks/storage/flooring so that coming in wet or having a buggy for a year or two isn't a showstopper. If it did have a hallway it would have been so narrow there was only room for coathooks anyway.