Tough house decision - WWYD?

[CherryBlossom321]

We live in a four bed detached property. It’s a lovely house in great condition and we’ve made improvements to it. Unfortunately, we have very difficult neighbours on three sides (who are all mates), and we now feel uncomfortable end unsafe. The area isn’t great.

We’re considering moving to a better area approx three miles away. As it’s a better area, we would get less house for our money. In our price range, as we don’t want to borrow more on our mortgage, we’d be looking at three bed, two reception townhouses. I’m mostly fine with this, but having lived without adjoining walls for a few years it makes me a little unsure (having said that, being detached hasn’t prevented us from being subject to horrendous noise from others here…)

WWYD?

I would try and think of the house as investment, make what money I can and move - preferably to a better area. We moved from large detached in ok area to medium semi in great area and quite happy.

Feeling unsafe is very extreme, if you have violent neighbours threatening you as you indicate then you need to leave why is it even a question, and report to the police.

I would rather have a smaller house with adjoining walls that I felt safe in than a larger detached place where I felt unsafe and uncomfortable.

100% move to a smaller house in a better area. Location is more important than bricks and mortar and I'd get out ASAP with a gang of unfriendly neighbours on either side. Good luck!

I would move, no question.

I had grim neighbours once and moved and I can genuinely still feel the relief of the first night in the new house. Moving etc is a total pain, but honestly worth it.

They are known to the police already. It’s not “extreme “ to feel unsafe living in close proximity to unsafe people. We haven’t been personally threatened as we keep ourselves to ourselves and they don’t see us as a problem. It’s a question because moving is expensive, and will change a lot for our family.

Definitely move, it’s horrible not to feel safe in your own home.
could you look for a semi or end terrace, and get the adjoining walls soundproofed when you move in? Built in wardrobes and bookcases are good too.

Thank you for your replies. I think it feels hard because in terms of the bricks and mortar, we have what we always wanted after 20 years of hard work. But I think you’re right, I’ve just imagined laying my head on the pillow in the area we’re looking at and could imagine the relief I’ll feel.

I would rather move to a safer area and lose “detachment “ factor. I think it very much depends on the house/ neighbors how noisy it will be. Some townhouses are better than others. Also there are different noises. It’s surprising how easily you can used to dog barking at 6am but still be nervous and upset about regular loud parties at 9pm.

I would move to a better area definitely even if had to sacrifice on space.

Definitely move. What's more important to you, the mental health, emotional well-being and physical safety of your and your family, or that little bump of ego that being in a 'detached' gives you?

They say "location, location, location" for a reason. Going from a detached in a not-so-good area to a semi in a good area isn't trading down. Move.

Location first even if there compromises

Unfortunately I think I would move. You have to feel happy when you step outside your front door, want to chill in your garden etc. Unless you're unlucky, a shared wall isn't going to be an issue even if you sometimes hear the neighbours.

We’ve just made the switch from a detached to a semi for very similar reasons. We decided the better area was worth the risk, we’ve also moved to a very popular area, so we know if we find living in a semi awful we can easily sell.
so far it’s all good, however (and it’s a big however 😂) there’s no one currently living in the house adjoined to ours. There have been people in and out clearing the house & we can hear when they’re going though wardrobes, so I am worried about the noise when the family moves in. I also find myself trying to be extra quiet when I hear people in the house next door..I have a feeling once the kids are out of nursery and we have more disposable income we’ll be hoping to move back to a detached…

Thanks, we’re definitely leaning that way. It’s less about ego and more about keeping my autistic child’s level of overstimulation low - we thought at the time noise would be much less of an issue if we had no adjoining walls - but unfortunately not on this street!

You'll feel so much relief once you've moved. Definitely move to the nicer area.