750 square feet - 5 people

[Nimbus1999]

Currently going through a divorce and toying with the idea of buying a 750 square feet house for 5 of us (1 adult, 4 children aged 7-13). The plan would be 2 kids share biggest bedroom & other 2 a room each and I’ll sleep on sofa/in trundle bed in kids room. Downstairs in just a living room and separate kitchen diner.

pros - I can afford it without stretching myself financially, close to school, good location.

obvious cons - very small!

Has anyone got any experience / has made this work? I would hope it wouldn’t be forever, maybe 2-3 years until I find my feet.

Thanks for reading

I wouldn't hesitate to go for this. Long term it's the more sensible financial option. The children will manage, and you'll be in a better position than if you were renting. I agree with having a bedroom yourself if possible in some way though, that will make it feel more homely.

Thank you for this, it’s reassuring. That’s what I’m worried about - I’m totally stretched financially now (paying a mortgage double the size on the family home by myself) I just really don’t want to stretch myself and worry constantly about money. It means we would have a bit more for days out, holidays etc. But weighing up if the sacrifice to living space is worth it. I mean, it’s going to be a massive change as we live in a 5 bedroom large detached house now! That’s not brought happiness though.

If it is the top of your budget then go for it. I think for a couple of years at least I would share a room with the youngest so that it was a proper bed not a sofa bed. Even if these are comfy like the one linked up thread then there is still the hassle of having to pull it out at the end of the day. I would also want to be checking out the financial aspect and potentially get some advice on that as 50:50 residence might mean no maintenance but it might not mean a 50:50 split of current assets.

can you afford a loft conversion eventually, if there is space up there?

I don’t think it would be worth converting the loft because I don’t plan to stay there forever plus the downstairs living space is never going to work long term - especially when me and 4 teenagers! My eldest is already much bigger than me! I’m trying to see it as a temporary stop gap, although maybe not that temp!

Without trying to sound like a Debbie downer, I would stop seeing it as temporary. The reality is, your mortgage will not be fixed at 1.69% forever and you have already said you can't afford much more.
House prices might go up, but then so will bigger houses. The cost of moving is not cheap, so to plan to do it twice in two years seems silly.
I would genuinely explore houses further afield if larger and more affordable, with a view to staying at least 5 years.

But then what about the fact the kids can’t get to school on their own? I’ll have to drive to drop off / pick up every day. As well as working full time. It just doesn’t seem like a good option.

I know it doesn't at the moment, but you have already said the older two get themselves to school, so it's your younger two. They also go ti their dad's 50% of the time, so I'm guessing it's 50% of school drop offs/pick ups?
It's not easy at all, but for me in this situation, having more space for 4 kids would be important. If their dad remains in a 2 bed flat, will they start resisting going there? Meaning they are with you even more? I'd just go and look at the bigger places before ruling them put completely, and do your sums beyond 2 years.

I mean the older 2 wouldn’t be able to get to school by themselves. I’d have to drop them. And then take the little ones to school.

As much as I am the poster child for moving further out to get a bigger house, I can absolutely see the OP's point about the logistics of ferrying four children around for school and everything else. It would be... a lot. Unless there happens to be anywhere nearby-but-cheaper with plentiful and reliable public transport, it's probably not a goer right now.

You can make it work, I’d much rather have a secure smaller roof over my head than stretch myself and be unsure if I can afford it especially with mortgage rates rising.

we live in a little house with 4 adults, we make it work. I hear friends stressing about mortgage and heating bills and I’m glad we stuck with a smaller house.

we make it work, our bedrooms aren’t very big but it’s workable.

I wonder if a few posters are missing the point that this is a property that you can afford that doesn't stretch you financially. That means you can put money aside to help pay for the next move. There's a lot to be said for a compromise that helps you get back on your feet and doesn't cause additional childcare issues by being in an awkward location.

It'll be tight, but loads of families live in small houses. You just need to be savvy about storage. Good luck, OP.

My friend had a similar arrangement. If screen off the end of the living room with the window clever storage and maybe a wall bed? Sofa/ tv in middle. Try and get a table that doubles as study space in the dining kitchen.

live minimalist lives, it’s doable

Would it work to have staggered access to their dad? I can't imagine all 4 of them in one bedroom. How are they managing now? I was thinking he could have the older 2 for 2 days and then the younger 2 for 2 days then they could all be together at yours for 3 days. Not ideal but at least they wouldn't be 5 crammed in to a 2 bed flat for half the week. And there would be more space at yours with 2 away for 4 days a week.
Either that or could you continue as you are for a bit longer but take in a lodger to ease the financial pressure?

I would 100% no worrying about being told to move out.

You may have already noticed this but that floor plan is not at all accurate - shows the back bedroom as same width as the front, when in fact it's 50% wider!

It's bedroom 1 that's labelled as being much narrower than it really is.

If you think you can do it go ahead. Make sure your children understand that its just for the short term.

It wouldn’t really work as I work long days (with a daily 3 hour return commute) on the days when they’re with their Dad. I think best to keep them all together also, most of the time.

Yes, not great that it’s wrong. At least the rooms are bigger than it says though and not losing space!

I would explain, they know already we will be moving to a much smaller house. They know things are tight. I hope they’ll understand, at least for now. I’m trying my best.

I would be really cautious about telling them it's 'just for the short term' in case it proves harder to move to somewhere larger than you hope. I might tell them that I hoped to be able to move us somewhere larger in time, but I wouldn't want to put a timescale on it in advance, until it was much more certain. I feel like that's the sort of thing they might hold onto, much more than you realise they have, and then be upset if it doesn't happen in the way they pictured.

The logistics of getting kids to and from school can't be underestimated in my opinion. OP I think you should go for it and all being well consider the next few years as settling in to an albeit smallish house but one where you and the kids feel settled. You say having a large 5 bed house now hasn't brought happiness and that says a lot. Make the move and look to see what happens with house prices. Absolutely do not rent.

Move the kitchen into the lounge, create your bedroom from the old kitchen.

How is that even possible in rented accommodation?